Early summer heatwave claims first victim in Cyprus

By AFP
June 15, 2024
A boy cools off at Fontana della Barcaccia at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome during a heatwave across Italy on July 17, 2023 — Reuters
A boy cools off at Fontana della Barcaccia at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome during a heatwave across Italy on July 17, 2023 — Reuters

NICOSIA: A 91-year-old woman became the first death from an early heatwave gripping Cyprus as the island sweltered under record June temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) on Friday.

Health officials said a woman died at Nicosia General Hospital suffering from heatstroke; another five elderly patients were being treated in hospitals with severe symptoms of heatstroke.

State health organisation spokesperson Charalambos Charilaou told reporters the woman suffered a cardiac arrest twice on arrival at Nicosia´s accident and emergency department. “After investigating the incident, A&E doctors determined that the cardiac arrest was a result of heatstroke,” Charilaou said.

On Friday, Cyprus issued its first red alert of the summer for extreme heat, with the Meteorological Department confirming that maximum temperatures reached 45 degrees Celsius.