Canadian authorities are investigating more than 500 deaths, likely caused by a historic heat wave, with temperatures approaching 50 degrees Celsius, which hit the west of the country in the last week of June.
The phenomenon, dubbed the thermal dome or dome, was not only responsible for the highest temperature on record in Canadian history, but also the cause of dozens of wildfires and flooding in the west. from the country.
Hundreds of deaths have occurred in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. The latter recorded the highest temperature in Canadian history, 49.6 degrees Celsius, on June 29.
The heat wave started on June 25 and didn’t start to cool down a bit in some areas until last Wednesday (06/30) when storms and fires started.
Deaths must increase
According to Lisa Lapointe, forensic director of the province of British Columbia, the region hardest hit by the heatwave, the number of deaths recorded last week reached 719.
The number is three times higher than normal, which has led authorities to estimate that more than 500 deaths were a direct result of the heat wave.
“We are releasing this information because it is likely that the extreme weather conditions that BC experienced last week were a significant factor contributing to the increase in the number of deaths,” Lapointe said in a statement.
The expert admits that this number is growing and will be updated in the coming days. Many of the victims are elderly people, who live alone and in houses without air conditioning, and are unprepared for high temperatures.
“Global warming is real”
According to data from the British Columbia Forest Fire Department, last week there were 245 fires, of which 176 are still active. More than 70 have started in the past two days.
Almost 70% of the fires were caused by lightning which found perfect dry conditions for forest fires. In 3 pm, between Wednesday and Thursday, 113,000 lightning strikes were recorded in British Columbia alone.
“We have proof that global warming is real. Unfortunately, we are already experiencing it, it is not the future. It is here. So I hope people prepare because we will probably see it more often.” , explained Natalie Hasell, meteorologist. at the Department of Environment and Climate Change Canada.
rpr (AP, Reuters)
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