(Vatican Radio) Residents in Buenas Aires are demanding decisive action from the Government
concerning power cuts, as Argentina's Capitol swelters in the most uncomfortable heatwave
in more than 40 years.
Listen to regional correspondent James Blears' report...
As temperatures
continue to soar around 38 degress centigrade, patience is wearing thin, especially
in some areas of Buenas Aires, which have been suffering power outages for two weeks.
The Festive holidays and the constant desperate use of air conditioning, has put an
almost intoleratble strain on the antiquated electricity grid. Although the Government
is supplying householders with generous amounts of water on a daily basis, the elecricity
shortages have caused havoc with businesses which supply fresh produce. Some of
the main highways to Buenas have been blocked by hot, tired protesters many banging
pots, demonstrating about the situation. Forcasters predict that the heatwave
will break today and by high noon there will be storms. It won't come a moment too
soon, but can't solve the overall problem, which has been searingly highlighted.