Скачать или смотреть GREECE: COUNTRY HIT BY HEATWAVE

(6 Jul 2000) Natural Sound

A heatwave has hit southern Europe leaving at least 23 people dead and sparking hundreds of fires.

In Greece, the thermometer climbed to 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit).

The heatwave has been caused by an unusually high pressure front that has trapped hot air masses flowing up from the Sahara desert and the Middle East.

From Romania in the north, to Greece, Italy and Turkey in the south, the entire southeastern region of the continent has been gripped by high pressure that has sent temperatures rocketing and broken century-old records.

So far it has killed eight people in Bulgaria, three in Greece and one in Macedonia.

In Athens people suffering from heat stroke were taken to hospital.

The hot air that is blowing in from the Middle East saw temperatures in Greece reach 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit).

Department stores reported runs on air conditioners, but cities such as Athens have been suffering power blackouts because of extended use.

The government has opened public auditoriums and indoor stadiums to people without air conditioners.

Dozens of people have been sleeping outdoors or on the beach.

Athens has also had to deal with increased air pollution as smog levels approached danger levels in the city centre and garbage collectors went on strike.

Greek firefighters have been fighting five major blazes and 100 smaller ones around the country, while winds in Italy fanned scores of forest fires.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...