Hungarian heatwave kills hundreds
Budapest has been bathed in searing sunshine for weeks
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Tuesday, 24, Jul 2007 09:55
A heatwave that has swept eastern Europe has killed as many as 500 people in Hungary over the past week, according to senior health officials in the country.
Extreme weather conditions have hit several nations in the Balkans and the easternmost parts of the continent, with temperatures reaching highs in the mid-40s.
Forest fires and other related incidents have resulted in several deaths, while the temperatures have affected the overall health of those in built-up areas.
As many as 230 people have died in central parts of Hungary since July 15th from a variety of ailments including heatstroke, cardiovascular problems and heart attacks brought on by the extreme conditions, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health.
Parts of Romania have also been badly affected, with as many as 19,000 people admitted to hospitals throughout the recent hot spell.
Other countries in the region, including Greece, Albania and Macedonia have suffered massive power outages, while Serbian and Bulgarian authorities have been forced to battle scores of forest fires
Mean temperatures in the region are well above 30 C, significantly higher than the seasonal average, with all-time records being set in several nations.
Forecasts suggest the temperatures are likely to drop in the coming weeks.
The news is the latest incident of extreme weather affecting Europe this summer. Major flooding throughout the UK, particularly in northern and central England, has wrought havoc with the nation's infrastructure and caused billions of pounds worth of damage.