4 minutes agoUp to 55 victims in France from high temperatures, dozens of cities on alert
Periskopi(an hour ago)
(an hour ago)At least 55 people drowned in France, while trying to cool off the record heat, Sports Minister Marina Ferrri told the French broadcaster.
The government fears this number could increase in the coming days, as 61 French departments are under red heat alert and another 25 under orange alert Friday, according to local media.
Authorities expect 11 departments to land from red to orange alert Friday evening, while another 13 will be removed from the red alert list Saturday morning.
According to Meteo-French, temperatures are expected to range between 36 degrees and 41 degrees in different parts of the country on Friday.
Health Minister Stephanie Rist warned on Thursday that hospitals could face a difficult end of the week, as visits to emergency departments and calls for emergency services increased due to the heat wave, according to BFMTV.
Paris Police Prefect Patrice Faure also said hospitals in Paris and the surrounding region were already overloaded.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced Thursday the activisation of the emergency health plan O Third-level RSAN, which according to him represents the highest subx0-level health care mobilization”.
Paris authorities also announced the ban on consumption of alcohol in public by mid-day, as part of measures to manage the effects of the heat wave./ Periscope.
