Italian health ministry places Rome at highest heat risk level.
As Italy's heat wave intensifies, the Italian health ministry has put Rome on red alert on 1 and 2 August, according to news agency ANSA.
Rome has been classified as "Level 3-Red", the health ministry's highest heat risk level, along with Frosinone, Pescara and Campobasso.
From 2 August the warning will be applied to a further 12 Italian cities: Bari, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Cagliari, Florence, Latina, Milan, Naples, Perugia, Rieti and Viterbo.

Temperatures of around 40 degrees Celcius are forecast for the end of the week.

The ongoing drought has led to water shortages and wildfires across the country, not least of all around the capital, and has also had a devastating effect on the nation's farming sector.