A hit wave has hit the Balkans and Italy. Italy's civil protection agency Friday placed 18 cities including Rome and Milan on maximum alert as the country experienced a major heat wave. The Health Ministry opened a citizens' hotline as the heat wave was set to peak on Saturday.

Temperatures soared in the Balkans and competent authorities have been placed on the alert to deal with any problems may emerge.

Italy's competent authorities are on the alert to deal with heat wave.On Wednesday, Italy's civil protection department issued its highest "level 3" heat warning for six cities but 19 of the country's 27 cities are expected to be on full alert as the heat wave is set to peak on Saturday. Italy's Meteorological Agency says that temperatures at the weekend will be 5 degrees higher than usual and in conditions of humidity making the situation worse.

The Health Ministry opened a citizens' hotline to help people cope with the heat and offer advice on preventive care for special groups of people.

Temperatures also soared in the Balkans and authorities are on the alert to cope with the problems.

Temperatures in many regions in Serbia reached 36C, in FYROM 38C.

In some parts of Croatia temperatures reached 39C .

In Slovenia temperatures range at 35 C while officials from the Ombudsman Office on citizens' rights are carrying out inspections in hospitals, prisons to see whether patients and prisoners are protected from heat.