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Heat wave in Russia causes 1,200 drowning deaths
photo by zrm35 (Flickr Creative Commons)
In a piece of news that may sound bizarre to some, record-breaking temperatures in Russia are causing a rash of deaths by drowning.
Over 1,200 have drowned recently, sometimes combining swimming with alcohol to seek relief from temperatures approaching 40C (104F). An official from Russia’s Emergencies Ministry attributed most of the drowning deaths to this dangerous mix.
From a CNN report:
Officials have urged citizens to take a siesta in the afternoon to avoid the hottest part of the day. Cases of heat stroke and sunburn have increased in children, and adults with heart problems and diabetes are suffering complications.
The heat wave has also negatively impacted air quality in Russia, caused water shortages and crop failures; and in some areas softened road asphalt, leading an increase in traffic accidents.
From an article in the Telegraph:
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday the heat was a major problem for Russian agriculture, echoing concerns from Russia’s grain lobby, which said the country was undergoing the worst drought in 130 years of weather observations.
Despite the manifold bad effects of the recent hot weather punishing much of Europe, many headlines on the story are focusing on Russians drinking too much vodka and drowning.
US climate scientists are predicting more hot weather this year after record high temperatures in June.
For more details on this story, see this report by the Associated Press:
Bikinis in Moscow: Europe wilts in heat wave
Graham Land
Additional resources:
BBC News – Russian deaths mount as heatwave and vodka mix
Tags: deaths, drowning, Europe, heat, heat wave, record, Russia, Russian, temperatures, vodka, weather
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