Italy's health ministry issued its highest-level 'red' alert heat warning for a total of 13 cities on Friday as the heatwave sweeping the country intensified.
The heat warnings were in place for Ancona, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Campobasso, Florence, Frosinone, Milan, Perugia, Rome, Turin, Venice and Verona, according to the ministry's latest heatwave bulletin on Thursday.
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The red alert (bollino rosso) indicates "emergency" conditions with a risk of negative effects on the general population, including on healthy and active people.
Central and northern regions were likely to see temperatures in the high 30s, according to forecasts, especially in inland areas of Tuscany, Lazio and the Po Valley.
Italy's IlMeteo weather website predicted temperatures of up to 40°C in Florence, and up to 39°C in Rome and Milan between Friday and Sunday.
Six cities were already under red alert on Thursday as the heatwave took hold: Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Florence, Perugia and Turin.
Most other parts of the country were under a medium-level amber alert on Friday (bollino arancione), indicating weather conditions that pose risks to the elderly, sick or very young.
The coastal cities of Bari, Genoa, Civitavecchia and Messina were the only four places still under the lowest-level 'yellow' warning, where temperatures were expected to remain at safer levels on Friday.
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The heatwave was caused by an anticyclone set to affect most of Italy for "at least 10 days... with a probable slight drop in temperatures after Wednesday, July 2nd," meteorologists at IlMeteo wrote.
The Italian health ministry has warned that "prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause mild ailments, such as cramps, fainting, or swelling, or more serious ones, such as heat stroke and dehydration."
The ministry's website advised people to stay indoors between 11am and 6pm, when the sun is at its most intense, as well as to dress in loose, light fabrics, and to drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day during heatwaves.
Italy has activated its 1500 phone helpline, which gives advice on managing the heat as well as information about healthcare services available.
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