Rome, July 12 : Rome and other cities across Italy are under a red alert as the country is bracing for an intense heat wave that meteorologists said was likely to break records.

Forecasters have predicted temperatures reaching around 40 degrees Celsius throughout the week in various cities across Italy, as Europe continues to experience a prolonged heat wave.

The Ministry of Health issued a red alert for at least one of the next three days in nine of the country’s 27 principal cities. This includes the capital, Rome, as well as Florence in central Italy and Bologna in the north. Even Bolzano, located in the far north, will be on red alert on Tuesday.

As per IANS, by Wednesday, eight more cities will be on orange alert, while only four cities will maintain a green status, indicating normal temperatures.