Balkans braces as Heatwave Intensifies
Pastor Dale Morgan
Balkans braces as Heatwave Intensifies *
From correspondents in Bucharest
July 24, 2007 05:02am
Article from: Reuters
ROMANIA declared "Code Red" overnight as the death toll of a week-long
heat wave climbed to 18 and Greece called a state of emergency,
forecasting temperatures of 45 degrees celsius in south-east Europe.
Romanian health minister Eugen Nicolaescu said three Romanians had died
in the last 24 hours and urged people to cancel outdoor travel in the
hottest part of the day.
"Code Red will be enforced for July 24 in five southern counties and in
the capital, Bucharest," he said after an emergency meeting.
The government also banned outdoor work, including construction, in the
hottest hours.
Meteorologists forecast three days of rising temperatures in the
region's second heat wave this year. In June, more than 35 people died
in Romania, Turkey and Greece when the mercury shot up to 46 degrees.
In Greece, health services said 13 people had been rushed to hospital
overnight with heat-related symptoms and the health ministry activated
an emergency plan to deal with possible mass hospitalisations and power
outages.
"We have been on full alert since Friday, increasing the number of staff
on duty," said Dimitris Pirros, national first aid centre spokesman.
A heat wave in 1987 caused hundreds of deaths in the Greek capital and
authorities have since been taking measures to protect the most
vulnerable and elderly.
"A second heat wave in a month is certainly something rare," said the
head of the National weather service, Dimitris Ziakopoulos. "Temperatu