At Least 44 Dead In Balkan Heatwave - 113F In Bucharest, 107F In Bulgaria (New Record) - AFP

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Bucharest was Europe's hottest capital on Tuesday with temperatures at 45 Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) but a heat alert was sounded for much of the south of the country. Ambulance services were beseiged with calls to help people fainting in the street, officials said. Fourteen people have died from the heat in the city over the past week, according to authorities who have set up more than 30 first aid tents in Bucharest alone to cope with the casualties.

Police have been handing out water in the street and the health ministry has warned the elderly and those with debilitating illnesses not to go out during the day. After a winter with much lower than average snowfall and a dry spring, the heatwave has worsened fears that Romania could lose more than half of its normal cereal crop this year because of the weather.

Temperatures were expected to hit 44 Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) in Athens and the government urged the public to save power as electricity consumption hit new highs on Monday. The Greek military has suspended all exercises.

Temperatures in Bulgaria were expected to hit a new record 42 Celsius (107 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday and dozens of heat casualties have also been reported.

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http://www.terradaily.com/2007/070626161317.55ejimci.html

Europe is frying right now. This summer might rival the summer crisis they had a few years ago, when thousands of people died from the heat.

The Mediterranean area has also been affected. There have been brush fires, the whole area seems to be turning into a desert.