KILLER HEATWAVE: 54 dead as record-breaking temperatures rip through North America
A RECORD-breaking heatwave has killed 54 people in eastern Canada as scorching temperatures continue to grip North America.
By ALAHNA KINDRED
Express.co.uk
Sat, Jul 7, 2018
24 of those who died were men over the age of 50 and lived in the upper floors of apartments that have no air-conditioning, said Dr David Kaiser of Montreal’s Regional Public Health Department.
Montreal in Quebec saw temperatures climb to 45C (113F) with humidity as eighteen people died in the city.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in at tweet: “My thoughts are with the loved ones of those who have died in Quebec during this heat wave. The record temperatures are expected to continue in central and eastern Canada, so make sure you know how to protect yourself and your family.”
The heatwave began on June 29 as heat warnings are still in effect across southern Quebec, Ontario and the rest of the Atlantic region.
Temperatures have regularly reached 30C (85F) over the past week along with sticky levels of humidity.
Montreal health officials have opened 19 cooling stations in public health and social services buildings throughout the city and have urged people to get to one of the air-conditioned centres.
In 2010, about 100 people were killed by a heatwave in the Montreal area.
It is unknown if there have been more deaths in other regions of Canada as each jurisdiction has a different way of documenting heat-related fatalities.
In California, more than 25million people are under serious degrees of heat watches as a dangerous heatwave threatens to fuel existing wildfires.
More than 4,000 firefighters are tackling several wildfires in California and the rising temperatures are expected to make to make conditions worse.
For much of the Northern Hemisphere, temperatures have become too extreme as in Northern Siberia temperatures have surged between 5C (5F) and 32 (89F).
Meteorologist Nick Humphrey said: “It is absolutely incredible and really one of the most intense heat events I’ve ever seen for so far north.”
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