FRANCE DECLARED A DROUGHT IN 15 DEPARTMENTS ON TUESDAY AS TEMPERATURES CLIMBED ABOVE SEASONAL NORMS AND OFFICIALS TOOK EARLY STEPS TO PROTECT THE ELDERLY WHO WERE VULNERABLE DURING A 2003 HEAT WAVE THAT KILLED THOUSANDS, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. TEMPERATURES IN PARIS AND OTHER REGIONS TOPPED AN ABOVE-AVERAGE 30 DEGREES CENTIGRADE (86 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT) FOR THE FOURTH DAY, NATIONAL WEATHER AGENCY METEO FRANCE SAID. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO STAY HIGH AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY. THE 15 DEPARTMENTS WERE MAINLY IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE OR THE CENTRAL REGION NEAR PARIS. THE ECOLOGY MINISTRY DESCRIBED THE DROUGHT IN TWO OF FRANCE'S 96 DEPARTMENTS -- IN SEINE-ET MARNE TO THE SOUTH EAST OF PARIS AND IN TARN IN THE SOUTH -- AS "WORRYING". RESTRICTIONS, INCLUDING A BAN ON THE USE OF HOSEPIPES FOR WATERING GARDENS, WAS PUT IN PLACE IN NINE DEPARTMENTS.
