Several deaths from heatwave

SYDNEY: Extreme heat has caused several deaths across the state in Victoria in Australia as five of the eight states and territories sweltered above 40°C.

Since Thursday, emergency workers responded to more than 30 cardiac arrest calls, a significant spike and several people had died, Ambulance Victoria’s state commander Paul Holman said.

Police rescued four children from locked vehicles, including a 15-month-old baby who was taken to a hospital due to heat distress.

Firefighters also had to battle about 10 fires across the state.

Local newspaper The Age reported several Melbourne city hospitals enacted a “code yellow” and switched off all non-essential lights and equipment to conserve energy amid searing heat on Friday that topped 42°C, the hottest day for the past two years.

At the ongoing Australian Open tennis, several players suffered heat stress, including France’s Alize Cornet who needed medical attention in her third-round encounter with Belgium’s Elise Mertens.

In neighbouring South Australia, hospitals treated more than 50 people for heat-related illnesses, as temperatures soared above 46°C – the state’s third day of extreme heat.

No deaths were reported. – dpa