Heatwave causes power outages in Italian city

In the northwestern Italian city of Turin, power supply disruptions have been reported, which authorities attribute to abnormal heat and overload on an ageing electricity grid, Reuters reports.

According to local authorities, outages in recent days have affected several districts of the city, leading to traffic congestion due to malfunctioning traffic lights.

Turin Mayor Stefano Lo Russo stated that the city’s power grid requires additional investment and maintenance. The energy company Iren warned of possible short-term outages, stressing that the situation remains under control.

The company, which serves around 650,000 consumers, noted that the heatwave arrived earlier than usual this year, and that high temperatures combined with long daylight hours are placing additional strain on cable networks.

Italy’s meteorological service forecasts temperatures in Turin reaching up to 32°C on 28 May.