A deadly heatwave hit northwestern areas of the United States and parts of Canada this week and has left dozens dead in the state of Oregon, in addition to triggering fears of wildfires and power cuts.
Multnomah County in Oregon, which includes the prominent city of Portland, reported at least 45 deaths linked to the severe temperatures recorded since Friday. The entire death toll of Oregon came out to be 63.
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Multnomah County’s medical examiner said that the fatal nature of the heatwave impacted the people in the form of hyperthermia, according to reports from Reuters.
The heatwave has stretched emergency services, with at least 134 people dying suddenly since Friday in the Vancouver area and hundreds more across British Columbia, according to Canadian police and the local coroner, reported AFP.
As of Tuesday, the Candian police reported nearly half the deaths, with the tally stopping at 69.
In the northwestern state of Washington, a flurry of deaths linked to heatstrokes were reported by doctors in the city of Seattle. Moreover, at least two people, aged 65 and 68, died due to hyperthermia.
Canada set a new all-time high-temperature record for a third day in a row Tuesday, reaching 121 degrees Fahrenheit in Lytton, reported AFP quoting Canada’s weather services.
“The temperatures recorded this week are unprecedented — lives have been lost and the risk of wildfires is at a dangerously high level”, said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a response to the heatwave.
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He further warned that the severe temperatures and the heatwave might not be the last one to strike the region as there is plenty of buildup to such extreme weather.
Emergency cooling centres have been set up across the impacted regions in the United States and Canada. Moreover, cool bottles of water and hats are being distributed to those who need them by outreach workers.
