Italy Estimates 4,000 Heat Deaths

[dArKeR]

 The heat wave that scorched Europe this summer may be to blame in the deaths of more than 4,000 elderly Italians, the Health Ministry said Thursday, offering its first official figures related to the searing temperatures.

The ministry said 34,071 people over the age of 65 died during the period of July 16 to Aug. 15, the height of the heat wave. That's 4,175 more than the same time last year.

Officials from the ministry's Superior Health Institute, which compiled the figures, said more study was needed to determine if the deaths could be blamed entirely on the heat. But they stressed that the weather clearly played a role.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/11/world/main572686.shtml

This is RICO material against CNN and the like Media Whores who only published reports negative/demonizing France crisis.