Heat wave ‘claims three more victims’

1 July 2004

CORDOBA — The heat wave across Spain claimed three more possible victims Thursday.

A 40-year-old man died in Cabra near Cordoba in Andalusia, in southern Spain from a condition which doctors said was linked to the heat.

Two other deaths were being investigated by authorities to see if they were linked to the high temperatures.

Meanwhile, Seville suffered more power-cuts Thursday as the authorities struggled to provide power as demand for air conditioning and other ways of keeping cool soared.

Temperatures were still reaching the upper thirties or striking 40 in many parts of southern Spain.

But the Meteorological Institute said that there was still no part of Spain where the heat meant authorities had to put out high risk health warnings. 

The 40-year-old, who died Wednesday in the Hospital Infanta Margarita de Cabra, suffered from a pathological condition linked to the heat.

Another person was also said to have died in Cordoba though it has not been confirmed if this was linked to the heat. No details of the dead person were released.

The third victim was a 69-year-old man who died Wednesday in Madrid from a condition connected with heat-stroke.

The man, who had a history of obesity, was found in the street unconscious and in shock.

Though Seville and Madrid had been on high-alert for health problems associated with the heat, temperatures have cooled slightly and authorities have lowered the health risk warnings.

The Health Ministry confirmed the first death due to the heat wave, a 48-year-old man who died while cycling in Argamasilla de Calatrava, in Ciudad Real.

In Seville, the energy company Endesa said that it had reduced the problems of power supply.

But many people still complained they were getting no electricity in various parts of the city.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news