Italy swelters, Hungary turns off lights as Europe's heatwave rages on

On Thursday, Italy placed all of its major cities on the highest tier of health alert, a move rarely seen in the country’s history. The alert, issued by the Health Ministry, stretched from Palermo on the southern island of Sicily to Bolzano in the alpine north. It warned of a potential public‑health emergency if temperatures remained above 40 °C for extended periods.

Hungary followed suit by switching off decorative and non‑essential lighting at state institutions, including its parliament, most of Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge, at night. The decision was prompted by record‑low water levels on the Danube, which had forced the country to largely shut down its only nuclear plant that relies on river water for cooling. The blackout aimed to keep the national grid from collapsing during peak summer demand.

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Romania, too, took steps to save power. The authorities in Bucharest dimmed the intensity of street lights by a third and turned off lighting at night at landmark buildings and museums. Meanwhile, the country was preparing to sink four rock‑filled barges into the Danube to divert water to its only operating reactor, buying a few extra days of safe operation.

In Moldova, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan urged consumers to reduce power use or face rolling blackouts, as shortages in Ukraine and Romania left the country unable to make up for peak‑period deficits. “We need to use a bit of common sense, we need to turn off the lights,” he told reporters. “We’re not sending a good signal when Chisinau is lit up like Las Vegas.”

Bulgaria’s situation escalated when a massive wildfire forced the closure of the main Trakia highway in both directions. The blaze, carried by high winds, spread about 70 km southeast of Sofia, forcing emergency services to divert traffic and deploy firefighting aircraft.

Germany’s Rhine River also felt the strain of low water levels. Many vessels were able to sail only part‑loaded, raising freight costs. The river remains a vital shipping route for commodities such as grains, minerals, coal and oil products.

In Italy, pilgrims gathered under a blazing sun in the hilltop town of Assisi were sprayed with water to cool them off as Pope Leo marked the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis. Tourists in Rome used umbrellas to keep the sun off and dipped their hands in the city’s fountains, while others avoided the hottest part of the day and preferred evenings or early mornings.

Across the Adriatic, visitors in Bosnia and Herzegovina sought refuge in the UNESCO‑listed Vjetrenica cave. The cave’s constant 11 °C temperature offered a stark contrast to the 40 °C outside, providing a cool sanctuary for both humans and biodiversity.

The European Union’s environment commissioner told Reuters that it would push member states to spend more on measures to reduce wildfire risk. Experts said the economic cost of this summer’s blazes had already exceeded €15 billion.

On 6 August, the following key events unfolded across the continent:

• Italy issued a red‑level heat alert for all major cities.
• Hungary turned off lights at state institutions to save energy.
• Romania dimmed Bucharest street lights and prepared barges to divert Danube water.
• Moldova’s prime minister called for power‑saving measures.
• Bulgaria’s Trakia highway closed due to wildfire.
• Low Rhine water levels restricted German shipping.
• The EU environment commissioner announced new wildfire‑risk funding plans.

What to watch next: The European Commission is slated to present a revised wildfire‑risk framework at its next summit, potentially increasing mandatory spending for fire‑breaks, early‑warning systems and public education. National governments are also evaluating the feasibility of installing solar panels on public buildings, a measure that could reduce reliance on the grid during peak heat.

The interconnectedness of climate impacts—from wildfires to power shortages—highlights the need for coordinated action. The EU’s upcoming policy push on wildfire risk and the individual measures taken by Italy, Hungary, Romania and Moldova underscore a growing awareness that climate‑induced extremes demand more than emergency responses; they require systemic resilience.