French heatwave claims 64 lives

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

Sixty-four people have died in France in a heatwave that has gripped much of Europe for two weeks.

French officials said 40 of the victims were over 75 years old.

There are fears that the death toll could rise, even though the high temperatures, above 35C (95F) in some places, dropped after overnight storms.

The heat has brought back memories of 2003, when some 15,000 people died in France, most of them elderly.

"The number we have established up to yesterday is 64 deaths," Gilles Brucker, director of the French Institute of Health Surveillance told reporters.

more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5220388.stm

[bananas]

1. Hey Tom, summer is far from over. nt

[gorbal]

2. 90 dead so far in California alone

Just so that the French don't look like they are taking worse care of their elderly than us.