Italy's Health Ministry placed Rome, Florence, Bologna, and Turin on Thursday at the red level of the alert scale, which is the third and highest level, due to the heat wave sweeping across Europe. Unusually high temperatures are expected to reach late May, reaching 33 degrees Celsius in northern Turin, 32 degrees Celsius in Florence and Bologna (with a perceived heat of up to 35 degrees Celsius), and 31 degrees Celsius in Rome (with a perceived heat of 33 degrees Celsius). The Health Ministry clarified that the third level indicates a state of emergency (heat wave) that is likely to have negative health effects on healthy and active people, not only on the most vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children, and those suffering from chronic diseases.