Heat Wave, Storm Hit Europe
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Paris, France (AHN) - The lingering heat wave affecting most of Europe is taking a heavy toll on its citizens with 30 people reported to have died because of the heat in the past week. In other parts, a fierce storm batters homes and lives. Forecasters recorded a slightly lower temperature Saturday but said the relieve is just temporary as the mercury is expected to rise again. French medical authorities have reported 22 deaths because of the high weather, up from the 9 reported two days ago. The fatalities include a 15-month old child, four laborers and two homeless individuals. This brings to 31 the number of people who have died since the heat wave struck western Europe which includes two deaths reported in Spain. Radio programs advices citizens particularly the elderly on how to cope up with the extreme heat and giving a telephone advice hot line. French forecasters have placed the eastern half of the country on "orange" alert -- the second highest level -- warning of more peaks at the weekend. Temperatures were expected to reach 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Rhone valley, though cooler weather was forecast for Sunday. In the Dordogne region of south-central France, violent storm killed a man when his the motorcycle he was riding was hit by a fallen tree. Elsewhere, firemen were busy fighting fires triggered by lightning. Thi |
