An elderly women died and dozens more were hospitalised from heatstroke on Wednesday as record temperatures hit much of central and southern Greece, REPORTED DPA. The heatwave, the second to strike the country this summer, caused power shortages and fuelled forest fires as much of central and southern Greece, including the capital Athens, was set to swelter in 46 Celsius temperatures. An 81-year-old women was reported dead in western Greece on Wednesday, while a 75-year-old man died from heatstroke on the Ionian island of Corfu a day earlier. Hospitals across the country were on full alert as dozens were rushed to emergency rooms for heat-related problems. Pollution levels in Athens also hit dangerous levels due to the heat, and two damaged power plants in northern Greece were operating once again early Wednesday after failing due to high demand. Problems with the power grid in several Balkan countries caused a widespread electricity blackout in northern Greece's Meliti and Amintaio on Tuesday. Officials at the country's public power corporation appealed to consumers to limit the continuous use of air conditioners during peak hours. Dry weather conditions and record-high temperatures also caused hundreds of forest fires since the beginning of July and forest rangers were placed on 24-hour fire patrols over the next week. More than 1,000 additional firefighters were being sent to northern Greece to contain dozens of blazes. Meteorologists said cooler weather should be filtering into Greece by Thursday.
