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Italian heatwave puts million people at risk

Tuesday, June 28, 2005 Posted: 1512 GMT (2312 HKT)


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Manage Alerts | What Is This? ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- A heat wave in Italy has put the health of one million people at risk and the government has warned the situation could be even worse than the summer of 2003 when 20,000 people died due to soaring temperatures.

Authorities have asked local doctors to keep an eye on their patients above 75 years of age who are most vulnerable, hoping to avoid a repeat of the death-rate of two years ago which has just been revised up from 8,000.

"We are faced with a heat wave that is equal if not worse than in 2003 (and) around one million people are at risk," Health Minister Francesco Storace told a news conference.

Italy is bathed in hot Saharan air with temperatures forecast on Tuesday to reach 36 degrees Celsius (97 Fahrenheit), with the hottest regions in the north. In cities it can feel much hotter as asphalt roads and pavements pump the heat back up from below.

High temperatures put the vulnerable at risk of dehydration and cardio-vascular problems which can kill. Older people are particularly at risk and several people have already been reported to have died because of the heat.

Northern Italy is also facing possible water shortages due to lack of rainfall and evaporation has spiked. Farmers say there is only enough water to guarantee irrigation for two weeks.

A massive use of air conditioning caused electricity consumption to hit near-record levels on Monday. Grid operator GRTN said the country was not at danger of power shortages, despite low availability from hydro plants.

In June 2003 Italy suffered widespread blackouts as electricty demand for air conditioners caused an overload.