Italy’s health ministry placed 16 provincial capitals under ‘bollino rosso’ (maximum heat alert) on 17 July, warning that the tally will rise to 19 on 18 July as the Anticyclone Minosse pushes temperatures beyond 40 °C from Lazio to Emilia-Romagna. Local authorities in Rome and Palermo have banned horse-drawn tourist carriages during peak hours, while Trenitalia has imposed 200 km/h speed caps on some high-speed segments to prevent track buckling. At Rome Fiumicino airport, ground-handling companies introduced extended rest periods and additional cooling stations for ramp workers after tarmac temperatures hit 52 °C, causing minor delays to turn-around times. Aeroporti di Roma advises passengers to check flight status and arrive early as security checkpoints may slow due to heat-stress protocols for staff. Civil-protection officials urge travellers to carry at least one litre of water, avoid outdoor queues at peak sun, and monitor regional wildfire bulletins. Corporate travel teams should verify that travellers hold comprehensive medical coverage for heat-related illness, which Italian emergency rooms list as the season’s top cause of tourist hospitalisation. Employers with posted workers on construction or agricultural sites must observe the INAIL-endorsed heat-stress index; failure to halt work during red-alert hours can trigger fines of up to €2,500 under Legislative Decree 81/2008.
Source: la Repubblica / RaiNews24
