123 deaths linked to record California heat wave
The death toll from California’s record-breaking heat wave rose to 123 today as weather forecasters announced that, for the first day in nearly two weeks, the temperature would stay below 100 degrees across most of the US state.
The vast majority of the deaths have been elderly people whose bodies do not cope as well in the heat, county coroners said.
But there have also been younger people.
A 38-year-old gardener collapsed at work and died last week.
On Wednesday, two brothers, ages 57 and 68, were found dead in a home in Bakersfield, California, without air conditioning.
The entire state has been sizzling in sweltering temperatures since July 16.
Only today were the heat adviories finally lifted and meteorologist said the heat wave appear to be nearing its end.
“By Monday, Tuesday we’ll be even cooler than normal,” said Mike Delman, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. In the extended forecast, “It might warm up a bit, but nothing like what we had.”
