B.C. deaths triple over past week, heat major factor

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The number of people who have died as a result of extreme heat in B.C. has risen, with new numbers released from the BC Coroners Service.

Over the seven days from Friday, June 25 through Thursday, July 1, 719 deaths have been reported to B.C.’s coroners … [that] is three times more than what would normally occur in the province during the same period,” reads a statement from Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe.

She says the heatwave, which saw temperatures rise into the 40s across B.C., is believed to be a “significant contributing factor” in the spike.

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“Many of the deaths experienced over the past week were among older individuals living alone in private residences with minimal ventilation,” Lapointe noted in her Friday statement.

“Today, the coroners service is seeing a downward trend from the number of deaths reported over the past few days, and we are hopeful this trend will continue,” Lapointe said.

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She’s urging British Columbians to check in on loved ones, especially those who live alone.

Lapointe suggests going to cooling centres, malls, libraries, and other air-conditioned spaces to escape the heat.