Italy heat wave triggers surge in emergency calls and ER visits

In late June 2026 Italy experienced an extreme heat wave that pushed regional emergency phone calls up by roughly 15‑20% and increased emergency department admissions by 10‑15% across the country. The most affected areas include the Milan metropolitan zone, the Lake district and the provinces of Pavia, Cremona and Mantova, as well as Rome. Regional welfare assessor Guido Bertolaso said hospitals are deploying additional staff, extra ambulances and have been urged to fuel backup generators to guard against power outages. He also referenced a work‑time ordinance issued earlier in June to protect laborers from heat exposure.

Hospital leaders Giuseppe Quintavalle (Fiaso) and Alessandro Riccardi (Simeu) confirmed the rise in heat‑related cases, warned against spending on low‑quality cooperative care, and urged greater investment in salaries to retain doctors. They highlighted community‑house initiatives to provide cooling spaces and advised avoiding inappropriate hospital admissions. While Spain has recorded 212 heat‑related deaths, an Economist study projects up to 12,000 possible deaths across Europe within three days if extreme temperatures persist.