- PARIS (AFP) -- France's undertakers
said on Wednesday there were 10,400 more deaths than usual so far this
month, amid claims that thousands of people may have died from the effects
of a heatwave that hit Europe.
-
- The Pompes Funebres Generales, the main group of undertakers
which has 25% of France's funeral market, said the figure was in comparison
to the same August period in previous years.
-
- French Health Minister Jean-Francois Mattei said on Monday
that it was "plausible" that the number of deaths linked to the
heatwave could be around 5 000, but added that more precise figures would
be known in the next few weeks.
-
- The deadly heatwave, which roasted France for the first
two weeks of August, claimed mostly elderly victims unable to cope with
the 40C temperatures.
-
- copyright Media24 Ltd. All rights reserved.
-
- http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1404823,00.html
|
