Italy struggles with wildfires, heatwave

Italian firefighters battled dozens of wildfires in Sicily, with nearly 50 of 344 blazes beyond control on Wednesday.

Temperatures topped 40°C in Sicily, and a heatwave in Rome prompted cinemas and libraries to offer free places as climate refuges until August 4.

A fire in central Sicily forced evacuation of about 100 residents and 22 patients from a clinic, and cut off drinking water to around 20 municipalities.

Rome's councillor for culture, Massimiliano Smeriglio, cited climate change as a reality affecting health and social interactions.

Scientists say human-caused climate change is making extreme weather events like fires and heatwaves more likely and severe.