Italy placed all 27 cities monitored under its national heat surveillance system on red alert Thursday, the first time this year the entire network has been under its highest warning level simultaneously, as a severe heat wave gripping Europe set a national temperature record in Austria and continued fueling wildfires in France. Italy's Health Ministry's red alert designation, known domestically as bollino rosso, signals a health risk to the entire population rather than only vulnerable groups such as older adults and people with chronic illnesses. Emergency room visits across Italy have risen 10% to 15% above baseline levels, according to the Italian Emergency Medicine Society. Save the Children Italy has reported that 3.4 million children in the country were exposed to extreme heat waves in just the first half of 2026. The heat wave's effects have extended well beyond Italy.