Expatica news

Heat wave claims first victim

30 June 2004

SEVILLE — The heat wave gripping Spain claimed its first victim when a 48-year-old man died after cycling in the midday heat, authorities said Wednesday.

The man died in the town of Argamasilla de Calatrava  in the province of Ciudad Real.

Emergency services discovered the man lying unconscious in the street when they were called at about 2pm Tuesday.

Shortly afterwards, he died in hospital with a high fever.  Temperatures at the time were said to be 42 degrees Celsius.

Ángeles Sanroma, spokesman for the health authority, said the man had been cycling at the hottest time of the day.

He had also taken medicine for a mental health condition.

In Seville, where power-cuts caused by excessive demand during the heat wave, the regional government was holding a crisis meeting Wednesday to discuss how to cope with the heat and demand for electricity which was causing problems with essential supplies.

The power-cuts have affected almost 200,000 people and brought hospitals, traffic lights and other essential services to a standstill.
 
In Andalusia in southern Spain, there were six people in hospital suffering from conditions related to the heat.

But forecasters said cooler weather was promised Wednesday with temperatures dipping to the mid-thirties.
 
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news