Heat wave-related deaths in France now estimated at 15,000
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 9, 2003 | 7:23 PM ET
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France's leading funeral company now estimates the country's deadly heat wave in August claimed the lives of 15,000 people.
That number far exceeds the official government estimate of more than 11,000.
A spokeswoman for General Funeral Services says the updated numbers include deaths in the second half of August, after the record-breaking temperatures had gone down.
Government health officials had cautioned their official numbers were based on deaths only in the first half of August.
The government released an interim report on Monday, blaming the deaths on hospital understaffing, bureaucratic delays and lack of care for the elderly.
The report partly blamed hospitals for allowing doctors to leave for August vacations. It said health authorities were too slow to realize how serious the situation was in emergency rooms.
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