Italy: Italy fights heatwave as wildfires spread in multiple regions

Quelle: Extreme Weather (Glomex)

SHOTLIST: SICILY, ITALY (15 JULY 2026) 1. VARIOUS SHOTS OF SMOKE AND FLAMES RISING FROM A WILDFIRE IN SICILY / FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING THE WILDFIRE Italy is battling an intense heatwave and multiple wildfires as authorities placed 15 cities under the highest heat alert and firefighters continued their efforts to contain fires in Sicily, Piedmont, and Umbria. The Health Ministry issued a red alert for cities including Rome, Florence, Palermo, and Turin, warning that temperatures in central and southern Italy could exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, wildfires continued to burn in several regions. Firefighters, supported by planes and helicopters, worked to bring a fire near Palermo's Monte Longa under control, while additional fires were reported from Umbria and Piedmont. The extreme weather has also exacerbated water scarcity in northern Italy, leading some municipalities in Piedmont to introduce restrictions on drinking water use. Water scarcity and protest in Rome In Rome, Greenpeace displayed melting ice sculptures in front of the Colosseum to raise awareness of the consequences of global warming during the recent heatwave. The action took place against a backdrop of ongoing heat stress as authorities in several cities declared the highest alert level and emergency responders continued to battle the fires in affected regions.