Two elderly people died of heatstroke in Genoa.

Two individuals have died as a result of extreme heat in Genova, Italy, while ten others were hospitalized due to the sweltering conditions. The victims include an 86-year-old man who had been admitted to the Policlinico San Martino hospital two days prior and a woman born in 1947 who arrived at the hospital already in cardiac arrest. Both deaths are believed to be linked to the high temperatures experienced in the city.

The effects of this heatwave have impacted nearly all hospitals in Genova, where the highest level of alert has been extended until Wednesday. At the Policlinico San Martino, four cases were recorded: two instances of dehydration and two syncope incidents involving patients ranging in age from 16 to 87 years old. The Galliera Hospital also reported four cases, including one case of lipotimia, one instance of dehydration, one syncope, and one presyncope syndrome among patients aged between 29 and 83. At the Villa Scassi Hospital, there were two cases—one of syncope with dehydration and another involving asthenia, dizziness, and sunburn affecting a 19-year-old and a 46-year-old man. No cases related to the heat were recorded at the Voltri Hospital.

During the early afternoon, a local police unit rescued a man suffering from cardiac arrest on Via XV Aprile. Before the arrival of emergency services, the officers initiated resuscitation efforts. Emergency responders used a defibrillator to restore his heart function, and he was transported to the Policlinico San Martino in critical condition.

According to the Asl 3 health authority, two elderly individuals—a man aged 86 and a woman aged 74—were admitted to the Policlinico San Martino and later succumbed to the heatwave. The 86-year-old man had been hospitalized two days earlier with a very high fever reaching up to 42 degrees Celsius and severe dehydration. He was in critical condition upon admission and passed away today. The 74-year-old woman was admitted today already in cardiac arrest, with a fever of 43 degrees Celsius and severe hyperthermia. She did not recover and died without regaining consciousness.

This exceptional heat dome has gripped Europe, pushing temperatures to record levels for the time of year. In the coming days, a change in weather is anticipated with the arrival of frequent thunderstorms that will bring temperatures back to normal levels for the period. However, due to the large amount of thermal energy accumulated, intense hailstorms could occur, according to meteorologist Mattia Gussoni from ilMeteo.it.

The intense heat is expected to continue into Monday, June 29, and Tuesday, June 30, with temperatures surpassing 36-37 degrees Celsius in parts of Central and Northern Italy. By the afternoon of Monday, thunderstorms will become more frequent over the Alps, occasionally extending towards the nearby plains of Piedmont and Lombardy. A significant shift is predicted starting Wednesday, July 1, when a frontal system descending from Northern Europe will affect Italy. This clash between cool and unstable air currents at higher altitudes and the hot-humid air accumulated over the Mediterranean basin might trigger particularly violent thunderstorm cells. The risk includes extreme phenomena such as strong hailstones and downbursts, which are powerful linear wind gusts exiting a storm. The regions most exposed to this intense wave of bad weather will initially be those in the North, followed by parts of the Center-South. After this rapid but intense phase of thunderstorms, the subtropical anticyclone from Africa will return bringing sunshine and heat across the entire peninsula.

Meanwhile, the number of cities marked with a red warning continues to rise. Today, 22 cities are under a red alert, increasing to 25 on June 30 and July 1, according to the latest bulletin on heatwaves issued by the Ministry of Health, which monitors 27 Italian cities. The cities currently under a red alert include Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Campobasso, Civitavecchia, Florence, Frosinone, Genova, Latina, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Rome, Turin, Venice, Verona, and Viterbo. Cities with an orange alert are Cagliari, Catania, and Trieste. The coolest cities, marked with a yellow alert, are Reggio Calabria and Messina.

On June 30 and July 1, the red alerts increase from 22 to 25, with Cagliari, Catania, and Trieste moving to the red category. Messina remains the coolest city, retaining its yellow alert even tomorrow and on July 1. Reggio Calabria moves to an orange alert on June 30 and July 1.

The period of maximum alert for heat continues to extend in Florence. According to the new bulletin from the Ministry of Health, the red code is extended until Wednesday, July 1. If the forecasts are confirmed, the city will reach twelve consecutive days with the highest level of alert regarding the effects of high temperatures on health, as explained by the municipality.