Italy places 25 cities under highest heat alert

Italian health authorities placed 25 of Italy’s 27 major cities under the highest-level heat alert on Monday, as the heatwave gripping the country intensified.

A ‘red’ alert, which indicates heat levels that may be dangerous for everyone, was set to be in place for the following cities on Monday: Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Cagliari, Campobasso, Catania, Civitavecchia, Firenze, Frosinone, Genova, Latina, Milano, Napoli, Palermo, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Roma, Torino, Trieste, Venezia, Verona, and Viterbo.

Inland areas of central and southern Italy were expected to see daytime temperatures of up to 40C on Monday, according to the latest forecasts.

Extreme heat was also expected in the north of the country, with temperatures forecast to hover in the high 30s during the day.

Seven Italians killed in tourist plane crash in Peru

Seven Italian nationals were among 13 people killed when a small sightseeing plane crashed in southern Peru on Saturday.

The incident occurred at around 1pm local time, shortly after the plane took off from Pisco airport, around 240 kilometres south of Lima, for a flight over the world-famous Nazca Lines.

Besides seven Italian nationals, two Germans, two Spaniards and two Peruvian crew members were killed in the crash.

The cause of the incident hadn't been established, though local officials said on Sunday that preliminary information pointed to an in-flight emergency.

**Seven dead, 34 injured in bus crash near Lazio-Umbria border **

At least seven people died and 34 were injured on Sunday after a bus and a camper collided on the Rieti-Terni highway near the border between Lazio and Umbria.

Four of the victims — two drivers and two passengers — were travelling on the bus, which was providing a shuttle service to the Marmore Falls. The two occupants of the camper, who were tourists returning from Terni, also died in the crash.

Three people were seriously injured and taken to Terni Hospital and Rome's Gemelli Hospital, one of them later died.

In total 24 people were taken to hospitals in Rieti, Terni and Foligno with less serious injuries.

RaiNews reported that the accident happened near the exit of the Greccio tunnel. The area had been hit by heavy rain and strong winds, bringing down trees on the highway.

According to preliminary information collected by the police, the camper, which was travelling towards Terni, crossed into the opposite lane, where it collided with the oncoming bus.

With additional reporting by Alice Finno.