Rome, 16 July (LaPresse) – Italy has also experienced excess mortality linked to extreme heat, a phenomenon limited to a 3 per cent increase and affecting the very elderly. This is what has emerged from the latest meeting of the inter-institutional steering committee convened as part of the Ministry of Health’s National Operational Plan on the Effects of Heat. During the meeting, with the support of the Department of Epidemiology of the Lazio Regional Health Service (Dep), data relating to the period 25 May–30 June were analysed: both globally and across Europe, June 2026 was the second hottest on record. Heatwave warning systems in Italy predicted level 2 and 3 risk conditions (orange and red alerts) from 18 June until the end of the month, with an average of 10 days in the North, 10 days in the Centre and 4 days in the South. The Ministry highlights the case of the city of Turin: here, there were 23 days with alert levels 2 and 3 during the reference period, accounting for 63 per cent of the total. Analysis of surveillance data on daily mortality among the over-65s showed, for the period 25 May to 30 June, across all the cities considered, “that the average excess mortality was modest (3 per cent), also in comparison with what was observed in other European countries”.
Heatwave, Crisis Management Centre: “Mortality up 3% in Italy between 25 May and 30 June”
Rome, 16 July (LaPresse) – Italy has also experienced excess mortality linked to extreme heat, a phenomenon limited to a 3 per cent increase and affecting the very elderly. This is what has emerged from the latest meeting of the inter-institutional steering committee convened as part of the Ministry of Health’s National Operational Plan on the Effects of Heat. During the meeting, with the support of the Department of Epidemiology of the Lazio Regional Health Service (Dep), data relating to the period 25 May–30 June were analysed: both globally and across Europe, June 2026 was the second hottest on record. Heatwave warning systems in Italy predicted level 2 and 3 risk conditions (orange and red alerts) from 18 June until the end of the month, with an average of 10 days in the North, 10 days in the Centre and 4 days in the South. The Ministry highlights the case of the city of Turin: here, there were 23 days with alert levels 2 and 3 during the reference period, accounting for 63 per cent of the total. Analysis of surveillance data on daily mortality among the over-65s showed, for the period 25 May to 30 June, across all the cities considered, “that the average excess mortality was modest (3 per cent), also in comparison with what was observed in other European countries”.
