|
V
|
ictoria’s “Black
Saturday” bushfires in 2009 killed 173 people and destroyed 2029 homes.
The media focus, subsequently, was relentless with much
being made of 173 people who died in the fearsome fires.
However, what went largely unnoticed by most was that nearly
three times that many died in the oppressive heat in the week leading up to the
first.
Yes, the fires were deadly and serious, but in the simple
number of deaths, the extreme heat of the previous week was even more deadly
and serious.
India, according to Sky News is now wrestling with something
similar, at least from the point of view of extreme temperature.
Sky News reports: “At
least 800 people have died in a major heatwave across India, melting roads in
New Delhi as temperatures neared 50C.
“Hospitals are on alert to treat victims of heatstroke and
authorities advise people to stay indoors with no end in sight to the searing
conditions.
“In the worst-hit state of Andhra Pradesh, in the south, 551
people have died in the last week as temperatures hit 47C on Monday.”
Read the story - “India heatwave kills 800 as roads melt”.
No comments:
Post a Comment