According to the ministry’s daily bulletin, a red level alert has been declared in Rome, Florence, Bologna, Trieste and Perugia, among others. Since the end of last week, temperatures in these cities have reached as high as 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
The heatwave is currently concentrated in northern and central parts of the country but is expected to reach the southern regions, including Sicily, on Tuesday.
Doctors are calling on people to refrain from leaving their homes and drink more water. They are also urging the elderly and those with chronic illnesses to exercise caution.
The most powerful heatwave this year was registered in Italy in late June when temperatures were the highest since the 1950s. That heatwave left three people dead.