Hungarian heatwave kills 500 in a week

THE heatwave in central and southern Europe killed an estimated 500 people in Hungary last week, the country's chief medical officer announced today.

Ferenc Falus said that during the week from July 15 to July 22 the heat in central Hungary “contributed to the early death of 230 people, which nationally means about 500 deaths”.

The announcement of hundreds of deaths comas as heavy rain and extreme temperatures continue to batter Europe.

Britain was experiencing its worst flooding in living memory, while across the continent in the Balkans people were warned to stay indoors to avoid searing temperatures with deaths reported in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, and Romania.

Temperatures in the region were recorded at 40C and above, with Greece expecting a high of 45C today and Italy just behind at 44C, hours after Rome recorded one of its warmest nights ever on Monday at 27.1C.

Bulgaria has also experienced its hottest temperatures since records began with the mercury shooting above 45C in parts of the country, and more than 860 people reportedly fainting in the streets in Romania.