20 killed by heatwave in Australia
Searing temperatures have caused blackouts in parts of Melbourne
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Saturday, 31, Jan 2009 11:15
At least 20 people have been killed by a searing heatwave in southern Australia.
The extreme temperatures of over 40C resulted in sudden deaths, the majority of whom were elderly people who suffered from heart attacks or heat strokes.
Searing temperatures have resulted in forest fires which have damaged electrical cables and disrupted in the power supply to major southern cities.
The city of Melbourne has seen power outages which have affected traffic lights and rail services in other southern parts have been cancelled as the heat affected rail tracks.
Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd said the heat had resulted in "appalling" conditions, adding that the southern part of the country was a "tinder box" at the moment.
Meteorologists say the heatwave is one of the worst south-eastern parts of the country has seen in over a hundred years.