The Mediterranean island of Cypress is enduring record-setting—in some cases, deadly—heat.
Two women, aged 60, and 75, have died of heat stroke.
Tourists who weren’t expecting the heat have had problems.
Barry Richardson and his partner came from Bedfordshire, England, for a summer vacation. They weren’t expecting to be staying in an oven.
My partner yesterday wasn’t feeling very well and I missed the cues, I missed that fact, that she’d said she wasn’t feeling very well,” Richardson reported. “Heat exhaustion can just come up on someone like that.” (snaps fingers).
Temperatures have climbed above 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Even locals were shocked by the heat.
“From the time I was born until now there hasn’t been anything like this, like there is in Arab countries,” said 85-year-old Andreas Costi Demetriou.
He spoke from the comfort of an air-conditioned “Heatwave Hospitality Center,” a facility that could save lives.
“Daily we have around 50 people, for whom we provide transport on a bus, they have breakfast, take part in various activities and then lunch,” said Christina Karamani, the hospitality center director. “Anyone who wishes can stay until 6:00 p.m. at the heatwave hospitality center.”
The worst of the heat is expected to pass by July 6.
