NICOSIA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Two people died of heat stroke as temperatures continued to stay several degrees Celsius above seasonal average for a third day, Cypriot medical services said on Monday.
The medical services reported that two women aged 79 and 60 died in a hospital in the capital Nicosia after being taken there with heatstroke symptoms.
They said that both victims had a medical history.
Three other elderly people are being hospitalized in serious condition, while many others received first aid attention.
Public health official repeated their appeal on Monday to vulnerable people, such as the elderly and those having a medical history, to take protective measures as the heat wave continues.
Temperatures rose to 43 degrees Celsius on Monday after hitting a 45 degrees Celsius high in Nicosia on Sunday, about 9 degrees Celsius over the season's average.
Record high temperatures were also recorded in some Balkan countries.
Cyprus' meteorological service said temperatures will drop to 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday before returning to normal levels as of Wednesday.
