The rising temperature in Canada and America has broken all previous records. The scorching heat is causing significant increase in deaths. More than 60 people have died in Oregon, and Multnomah, the state's largest county, is affected the most as 45 people were reported dead since Friday. Lisa Lapointe, the chief coroner of the Canadian western province of British Columbia, said "There have been reports of at least 486 'sudden and unexpected deaths between Friday and 1 p.m. on Wednesday."
However, she also said that it is too early to say with certainty how many of these deaths are heat-related. But, it is believed that the significant increase in the death toll is attributed to extreme weather. Vancouver Police Sergeant Steve Edison said, "Vancouver has never experienced such hot weather and sadly dozens of people are dying because of it."
Severe heat waves in Canada and America
Washington state officials have reported more than 20 deaths due to the heat, but the number could rise further in the coming days. Meteorologists have attributed the extreme heat to extreme pressure over the Northwest and human-caused climate change. All previous temperature records have been broken in Seattle, Portland, and many other cities. In some places, the temperature has crossed 46 degree Celsius. Although lower temperatures in western Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia have brought some relief to people, the sweltering heat is still wreaking havoc in the interior. Heat warnings have been issued for Canada's southern Alberta and Saskatchewan and Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
Hundreds of people feared dead
A medical examiner in Oregon's Multnomah County has cited hyperthermia, an abnormally high body temperature, as the cause of 45 deaths that included people between the ages of 44 and 97. Portland also comes under this county. Only 12 people were confirmed to have died of hyperthermia in Oregon between 2017 and 2019. The King County Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed at least 13 deaths who were between the age group of 61 and 97. The Spokane Fire Department in eastern Washington found 2 people dead in an apartment on Wednesday. Heat is also believed to be the reason behind these deaths.