Power cuts in Bergamo, Florence and Milan due to heatwave in Italy.Several cities in northern and central Italy, including Bergamo, Florence and Milan, recorded major blackouts on Tuesday as the country grapples with an intense heatwave.The power cuts are believed to have been caused by excessive heat, with power lines overheating due to the high temperatures, compounded by a surge in the use of air conditioning. In Bergamo the blackouts were recorded in the historic Città Alta district as well as in the centre and the area around the Gewiss stadium. Energy provider Enel Bergamo said the power cuts were linked to the heatwave which "leads to overheating and the expansion of the electrical cables, not to mention the use of air conditioners which overload the network". The centre of Florence was also left without electricity, for the same reasons, as were parts of Milan and surrounding areas including Sesto San Giovanni. In addition to the inconvenience for homes and businesses, the blackouts led to multiple reports of people getting stuck in elevators, and malfunctioning of traffic lights. Italy's health ministry has issued a maximum red alert or "bollino rosso" for 18 cities on Wednesday, a heat warning indicating emergency conditions with a risk of negative effects on the elderly, sick or very young, as well as healthy and active people.

Several cities in northern and central Italy, including Bergamo, Florence and Milan, recorded major blackouts on Tuesday as the country grapples with an intense heatwave. The power cuts are believed to have been caused by excessive heat, with power lines overheating due to the high temperatures, compounded by a surge in the use of air conditioning. In Bergamo the blackouts were recorded in the historic Città Alta district as well as in the centre and the area around the Gewiss stadium. Energy provider Enel Bergamo said the power cuts were linked to the heatwave which "leads to overheating and the expansion of the electrical cables, not to mention the use of air conditioners which overload the network". The centre of Florence was also left without electricity, for the same reasons, as were parts of Milan and surrounding areas including Sesto San Giovanni. In addition to the inconvenience for homes and businesses, the blackouts led to multiple reports of people getting stuck in elevators, and malfunctioning of traffic lights. Italy's health ministry has issued a maximum red alert or "bollino rosso" for , a heat warning indicating emergency conditions with a risk of negative effects on the elderly, sick or very young, as well as healthy and active people.