Antonino Galofaro (in Rome) / Photo credit: Miguel MEDINA / AFP
Italy is hit hard by a high-intensity heat wave. While the thermometer could climb up to 48 degrees during the week in Sardinia, in Milan, in the north of the country, the inhabitants do not lack tricks to try to cool off.
Italy is suffocating. The boot of Europe is experiencing an episode of impressive heat, like what has been happening in the rest of the northern hemisphere in recent days. Highs of 45 or even 48 degrees are expected in the country this week. So in Milan, in the north of the country, the inhabitants are trying somehow to withstand the heat.
Looking for air conditioning
In front of the public fountains, many fill a few bottles of water. “I come here to get water every other day. This six liters of water lasts about two or three days. We are a couple and we drink at least one liter of water each on a day. So I will come back here the day after tomorrow with my bottles”, explains Matteo.
But in the face of record temperatures, staying hydrated is no longer enough to cool down. The Italians go hunting for shade and air-conditioned interiors, like Rita. “I prefer going to the office rather than staying at home even if I can work from home. The office is cooler, the air conditioning is stronger than at home,” she explains.
European records soon to be broken?
Same strategy for Claudio, who “also takes advantage of the wind on his scooter”. “I frequent places where there are not many people. I should manage to survive before going to the sea this weekend” he quips.
But even by the sea, the weather is suffocating. Temperatures are expected to rise this week to 44 degrees in Sicily and 48 in Sardinia, and could even beat the European record of 48.8 degrees.