"From June 1, a first warning system against heatwaves will be activated... in the cities of Rome, Turin, Milan, Bologna, Palermo, Brescia and Florence," the Italian civilian protection service said in a statement.

Under the new alert system, which will eventually be extended to other cities thought to be at risk, health authorities will receive daily reports on local weather conditions and mortality statistics.

The warning system will enable city authorities to "identify well in advance weather conditions that could pose a health threat" in order to predict and reduce related health problems, the text said.

Along with much of Europe, Italy experienced a record heatwave in the summer of 2003, during which there were 7,660 more recorded deaths than the previous year, with most of the casualities among the elderly.

The alert system has been piloted over a two-year period in Rome, Turin and Bologna.

TERRA.WIRE