A scorching heatwave is sweeping across much of Europe, prompting Italian authorities to expand the ban on outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day. As temperatures surpass 45°C (113°F) in parts of Europe, heat-related deaths are rising rapidly in countries including Italy. On July 1 (local time), The Guardian and local Italian media reported that the government has decided to prohibit outdoor labor during peak heat hours in multiple regions, including the capital Rome and Lombardy, through the end of August. The decision comes after a man in his 40s collapsed and died while working at a construction site near Bologna. The Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) issued a statement urging the inclusion of specific measures in the upcoming “Heat Protocol for Workplaces” to protect workers during climate emergencies. On the same day, authorities issued yellow alerts for several northern regions and placed 18 cities, including Florence, Bologna, and Turin, under yellow or the more severe red alerts.

Eleven regions—from Liguria in the northwest to Calabria and Sicily in the south—have already implemented similar restrictions in recent days. According to the Italian Ministry of Health, the heat alert system ranges from Level 0 to Level 3, with yellow corresponding to Level 2 and red to Level 3. Red alerts can trigger restrictions or full bans on outdoor work. Emergency room visits have surged by 15–20% in some regions, with most patients being elderly individuals suffering from dehydration, The Guardian reported. The deadly heatwave is impacting multiple countries. On June 28, two workers died from suspected heatstroke in Spain—one in Córdoba and another government employee in Barcelona. On June 30 in France, a man in his 30s collapsed and died on his way home after complaining of heat several times during his shift at a construction site.

In response, France’s national weather agency Météo-France issued its highest-level red alert for 16 regions and a yellow alert for 68 others. Authorities have restricted access to the top of the Eiffel Tower for two days and temporarily closed or partially suspended operations at 1,350 public schools nationwide. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a stark warning on July 1: “The world must now learn to live with extreme heat,” adding that human-driven climate change will lead to more frequent and intense heatwaves in the future. The organization identified abnormally warm sea temperatures in the Mediterranean as a major driver of the European heatwave. Last month, the sea surface temperature in the Mediterranean surpassed 26°C (78.8°F), setting a record high for June. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing the opposite extreme. In South America, an unexpected cold snap has gripped several regions. Reuters reported that temperatures in Buenos Aires, Argentina, dropped below freezing, forcing residents to bundle up in wool hats, scarves, and padded jackets. Although winter in South America spans June through August, sub-zero temperatures are usually rare. In late June, unexpected snowfall blanketed parts of Chile and Uruguay. In Chile’s Atacama Desert—one of the driest places on Earth—snowfall was observed for the first time in over a decade. In Uruguay, seven homeless individuals died from cold exposure as wind chills plunged well below freezing.

(Hankyoreh Journal, July 2, 2025)