Death toll rises to 27 as mercury reaches record high amid heatwave in US

A scorching heat wave has gripped most parts of the United States recently. According to authorities, the extreme weather conditions have also resulted in at least 27 deaths over the last week.

The West and East Coast cities of California, Oregon, and Arizona are experiencing record-breaking temperatures, and the death toll is expected to further rise. National Weather Service (NWS) has issued heatwavealerts for three consecutive days as the temperatures in the region remain high.

Over 135 million people after affected across the lower 48 region of the USdue to the heat wave. The conditions are expected to remain the same until the weekend.

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The majority of the deaths are reported in California from the cities including San Jose, Fresno and Oakland, where the mercury hitrecord-high numbers. The Chief Medical Examiner Michelle Jordan of Santa Clara County has saidthat they are investigating 14 cases which are likely caused by the heat.

Eight of the people who died were over 65 years of age, and most of them were found at their residences. Two individuals who lost their lives due to the heat wave were homeless, and one of them was residing in transitional housing -the temporary housing provided for certain homeless individuals - saidJordan.

In California's Death Valley National Park, the temperature rose to53.3 degrees Celsius(128 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday (Jul 6), resulting in the death of a motorcyclist.

On the same day, a woman detained at the Central California Women’s Facility died due to extreme heat conditions inside the prison, according to her daughter.However, the authorities are still doubtful.

In Sacramento, a 58-year-old man was taken to hospital after he suffered a heat stroke as his home was not air-conditioned, but he did not survive.

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Oregan has also recorded some fatalities related to heat as the state remained at over37.7 degrees Celsius(100 degrees Fahrenheit) for days.

According to public health professionals, although the death toll may remain unclear for some time, the number is most likely an undercount.

According to federal data, heat-related deaths in the United States have been on the rise over the last few years. Last year, the death toll stood at a little over 2,300.

In 2022 the number of fatalities was 1,700, while the year before that, at least 1,600 people died due to the heat wave.

(With inputs from agencies)