Heatwave Death Toll May Hit 5,000 in France

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 18, 2003

Heatwave Death Toll May Hit 5,000 in France

As many as 5,000 people may have been killed by the recent heatwave sweeping across France, Health Minister Jean-Francois Mattei told RTL radio on Monday.

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As many as 5,000 people may have been killed by the recent heatwave sweeping across France, Health Minister Jean-Francois Mattei told RTL radio on Monday.

Mattei, who has been under fire for slow reaction to the crisis, said "The figure of 5,000 was mentioned yesterday. It's one hypothesis. It's plausible but it's just a hypothesis."

The minister said currently available death tolls were "based on estimates", and "We won't have definitive and indisputable figures for several weeks."

The original number of death caused by the intense heatwave was estimated at 3,000.

The French government has been accused by the opposition parties of poorly handling the crisis.

The baking weather has kept the mercury hovering between 35 to 40 degrees Celsius across much of the European continent for over a week.

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