1.
GV & SV Cows in parched field
0.06

2.
GV Farmer laying out hay for cattle in field
0.14

3.
GV Parched crop field
0.18

4.
GV Irrigation project
0.26

5.
GV Signpost "Lanvaudan"
0.29

6.
GV Forest fire
0.45

7.
GV Men putting out fire (including army personnel) (3 shots)
0.58

8.
GV Firefighters (including army personnel)
1.00

9.
GV & CU Topless girls relaxing along riverside (4 shots)
1.14

10.
SV & CU Debris in river (4 shots)
1.25

11.
GV People relaxing at riverside
1.28


The heatwave has been causing havoc elsewhere in Europe. In West Germany, a number of people have died of heart attacks after plunging into cold lakes and the sea to cool down. In Switzerland, farmers were killing cattle because of shortage of fodder. In Austria, hundreds of cases of heart stress were reported. In Britain, crowds of British and foreign bargain hunters at London's summer sales were given free fruit juice as they queued outside chain stores in temperatures over 90 degrees fahrenheit. On the other hand the Soviet Union is bemoaning its wettest summer in 100 years and blaming the west's extreme heat for bringing the rains.




Initials BB/0309



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In France the freak European heatwave has been keeping fire-fighters busy and has spelt virtual disaster for farmers. The French government has said it will compensate farmers for loss of revenue caused by the current drought which has hit the country.

SYNOPSIS: Thousands of acres of grazing land have been parched dry, leaving animals, especially cattle, in a pitiful state. The production of hay has been curtailed and supplies are expected to run out within two months.

Vast expanses of grain fields have also been hit by the heatwave and although winter wheat is more than likely to survive, more than half of the spring crops will be destroyed.

Bush the forest fires are also causing untold damage and firemen are having a trying time attempting to put out blazes in almost every region of the country. The head of administration of one area of Brittany has deemed it illegal to burn straw left over from the harvests for fear of fires becoming uncontrollable.

Near Paris as temperatures reached over 100 degrees fahrenheit, people shed as much clothing as they thought proper in order to keep cool. Many headed for the sea but for others, the River Seine was more convenient. Case near the river, however, they found that pollution in the water was too much for them so they had to be content with whatever shade they could find on the river banks.