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Heat wave in western Canada kills over 100 people in four days

Toronto, Canada, Jun 29 (EFE).- More than 100 people have died in the western province of British Columbia during the last four days due to a heat wave that is hitting the west of the country, Canadian authorities said on Tuesday.

Medical authorities also warned that the figure will continue to rise as long as the weather conditions prevailed, with extreme temperatures and high humidity levels.

Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner in British Columbia, which is located along Canada’s Pacific coast, said in a statement that “since the onset of the heat wave late last week, the BC Coroners Service has experienced a significant increase in deaths reported where it is suspected that extreme heat has been contributory.”

Instead of the around 130 reports of death that the Coroners Service would normally receive over a four-day period, at least 233 deaths were reported between June 25-28, she added.

“This number will increase as data continues to be updated,” she said.

A police spokesperson in Vancouver, the largest city in British Columbia, said that the police had so far responded to more than 65 sudden deaths since the unprecedented heat wave began on Friday.

The police also asked people to check on their neighbors and family members, especially the elderly.

“Vancouver has never experienced heat like this, and sadly dozens of people are dying because of it,” police sergeant Steve Addison said in a statement.

On Monday, the interior of British Columbia experienced temperatures of up to 47.9 degrees Celsius, shattering the previous record of 46.6 degrees Celsius set over the weekend in the same area.

Before the start of the heat wave, the highest temperature ever recorded in Canada had been 45 degrees Celsius in 1937.

The heat wave is slowly moving towards eastern and northern Canada. EFE

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