ROME — Southern Europe is enduring a brutal heatwave, with temperatures hitting 44°C across France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, triggering health alerts and wildfire warnings. France placed 84 out of 96 mainland departments on orange alert, calling the situation “unprecedented.”

Heat-related emergencies have surged in Italy, where hospitals reported a spike in heatstroke cases, mostly among the elderly and vulnerable. In Spain and Portugal, regions remain on red alert, with fire crews battling blazes fueled by scorching temperatures and strong winds.

Tourists and locals alike are struggling — in Rome, emergency services are on high alert as cities like Milan, Venice, and Florence face extreme heat warnings.

Scientists link the growing intensity and frequency of these heatwaves to climate change, warning conditions will worsen. Rising sea temperatures are also bringing invasive, venomous marine species to Mediterranean waters, further threatening biodiversity.