The French government said this morning it hadrecorded 11,435 extra deaths during a heatwave in the first two weeks of August. Giving preliminary figures, the Health Ministry said theextra deaths related to the period when temperatures soared over 40° degrees Celsius.
While stopping short of tying the deaths to the record hot spell, the ministrysaid "the human drama linked to the heat wave hit the weakest people in oursociety."
The government is facing mounting criticism for failing to react fast enough to the crisis, during which hospitals and were swamped with people, especially the elderly, suffering from dehydration and hyperthermia.
Health Minister Jean-Francois Mattei has so far refused to step down.
Many bodies remain unclaimed and have been buried in pauper's graves by the authorities as a temporary measure.
