The toll was given by the state National Institute for Health and Medical Research and covered the period from August 1-20 -- comprising the two-week period of the record-breaking heatwave plus the week following, when casualties were still being counted.

The figure was higher that a toll of 11,435 given August 29 by Health Minister Jean-Francois Mattei but which related only to the first two weeks of August.

TERRA.WIRE