- Title: GREECE: TWO DIE FROM HEATSTROKE DURING SWELTERING HEATWAVE
- Date: 5th July 2000
- Summary: ATHENS GREECE (JULY 5, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. LV SUN GOING DOWN OVER ATHENS 0.05 2. SLV PEOPLE STILL SWIMMING AND LYING ON THE BEACH AS THE SUN GOES DOWN 0.09 3. VARIOUS SUN GOES DOWN OVER CITY/ PEOPLE ON BEACH (4 SHOTS) 0.30 4. GV MOON OVER ATHENS BEACH 0.35 5. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LYING ON BEACH AT NIGHT (3 SHOTS) 0.51 6. SLV PEOPLE SWIMMING IN WATER AT NIGHT 0.58 7. MV PEOPLE LYING ON BEACH/ EATING ON BEACH (2 SHOTS) 1.10 8. SV SOUNDBITE (Greek) MAN ON BEACH SAYING "There is just too much heat. We are suffering. We work in the morning and come here at night to cool off." 1.15 9. SLV MOON REFLECTED OFF SEA/ PEOPLE WALKING ON BEACH (2 SHOTS) 1.26 10. SV SOUNDBITE (Greek) MAN ON BEACH SAYING: "We figure we will stay here until three or four in the morning, but it depends. We'll see." 1.32 11. SLV PEOPLE LYING ON BEACH/ DIVING INTO WATER AT NIGHT (2 SHOTS) 1.45 ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 6 2000) (REUTERS) 12. GV OVERHEAD SHOTS OF ATHENS, LAYER OF SMOG COVERING CITY (2 SHOTS) 1.55 13. MV PEOPLE ON THE STREET, WOMAN SHADING HER FACE FROM SUN 1.59 14. BV MAN WITH BOOK ON HIS HEAD 2.04 15. BV MAN WITH UMBRELLA 2.08 16. MV PEOPLE WAITING IN SUN TO BOARD BUS TO BEACH/RUSH TO CRAM INTO AIR CONDITIONED BUS HEADING TO BEACH 2.20 17. SLV TOURIST WETTING HIS FACE FROM SPRINKLER 2.26 18. MV AIR CONDITIONERS IN SHOP WINDOWS 2.30 19. MV MAN LOOKING AT AIR CONDITIONER 2.40 20. SV SOUNDBITE (Greek) EMPLOYEE IN AIR CONDITIONING SHOP SAYING "We are selling a lot (of air conditioners), the problem is we can't install them fast enough. We have lots of appliances but people have to wait until Tuesday to have them installed." 2.52 21. SV WOMAN ASKING ABOUT AIR CONDITIONER 2.55 22. SLV EMPLOYEE BRINGING MORE BOXES OF AIR CONDITIONERS TO STORE 3.01 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th July 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ATHENS, GREECE
- Country: Greece
- Reuters ID: LVA8AW40RAB5NUFBJ12BS72P7DDT
- Story Text: Two people have died from heatstroke during a
sweltering heatwave that has hit Greece.
The heatwave scorched Greece for a third day on
Thursday (July 6) sending dozens to hospitals, authorities said.
The weather service offered no immediate promise of
respite, saying temperatures were expected to remain high
until early next week.
Health ministry officials said a man and woman in their
fifties had died in northern Greece from severe heat stroke on
Wednesday. The government warned the public to stay indoors
and avoid movement outside, especially in urban centres.
The National Meteorological Service said that temperatures
would soar to 43-44 degrees Celsius on Thursday, making it the
hottest day of the year.
Forecasters said that masses of hot air from the Sahara Desert continued to move north, affecting both Greece and Italy.
Since Monday, the Interior Ministry has activated its
"Xenocrates" emergency plan, ordering state buildings to make
air conditioned spaces available to the public.
Hundreds queued in the hot sun, waiting for air
conditioned buses to the sea side.
Public beaches have stayed open late into the night and
thousands of Athenians have flocked to nearby seaside resorts
in search of relief.
"There is just too much heat. We are suffering. We work in
the morning and come here at night to cool off," said one man, desperately trying to beat the heat with an evening by the sea.
"We figure we will stay here until three or four in the
morning, but it depends. We'll see," said another.
Thousands of residents and tourists in Athens remained on
the beaches all night to escape the heat.
Doctors at emergency services said people continued to suffer
from fainting spells, heart and respiratory problems, and
heatstroke and were taken to hospital.
Electricity consumption has skyrocketed from the use of
air conditioners, causing power-outs in some areas.
Sales of air conditioners and fans continue at a fast
rate, and employees said they cannot install them fast enough.
"We are selling a lot (of air conditioners), the problem
is we can't install them fast enough. We have lots of
appliances but people have to wait until Tuesday to have them
installed," said one salesman.
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