Thread: More than 230 deaths reported in British Columbia amid historic heat wave

More than 230 deaths have been reported in British Columbia since Friday as a historic heat wave brought record-high temperatures, officials said Tuesday. The province's chief coroner called it an "unprecedented time."


"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," Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said in a statement.

The coroner's service normally receives about 130 death reports over a four-day period. From Friday through Monday, at least 233 deaths were reported, the chief coroner said, adding "this number will increase as data continues to be updated."

Coroners are now gathering information to determine the cause and manner of deaths and whether heat played a role, the statement said.


"Environmental heat exposure can lead to severe or fatal results, particularly in older people, infants and young children and those with chronic illnesses," the statement added.


Authorities earlier in the day reported a spike in sudden deaths for Vancouver and nearby Burnaby and Surrey.


Officers have responded to more than 65 sudden deaths since the heat wave began on Friday, Vancouver police said.

"Today alone, officers had responded to 20 sudden deaths as of 1:45 p.m., with more than a dozen others waiting for police to be dispatched," the department said in a statement
Heat-related deaths have depleted front-line resources and severely delayed response times, officials said.


"We've never experienced anything like this heat in Vancouver," media relations Officer Sgt. Steve Addison said during a press conference.


Readings in downtown Vancouver were 98.6 degrees on Saturday, 99.5 on Sunday and 101.5 on Monday.



'It is imperative we check on one another'


Royal Canadian Mounted Police have responded to 35 sudden deaths in nearby Surrey since Monday, media relations officer Cst. Sarbjit K. Sangha told CNN.


"While the causes of death has not yet been determined in each of these cases, we can confirm that Surrey RCMP is responding to a higher than usual number of deaths since the beginning of the extreme weather conditions," Sangha said.

In the city of Burnaby, police responded to more than 34 sudden death calls since Monday, with heat believed to be a contributing factor in the majority of the deaths, according to a release from RCMP.


"We are seeing this weather can be deadly for vulnerable members of our community, especially the elderly and those with underlying health issues. It is imperative we check on one another during this extreme heat," Cpl. Mike Kalanj with Burnaby RCMP said.


Many of the deceased have been senior citizens, RCMP said, and police are urging people to check on loved ones and neighbors as the heat wave bringing record-breaking temperatures to the region continues.


The RCMP in Surrey is encouraging all residents, especially the elderly, to take precautions to protect themselves from heat injuries.


Lytton, British Columbia, hit 121 degrees on Tuesday -- the highest temperature ever recorded in Canada. The record was broken on Sunday and then again on Monday.



Climate change at play


Extreme high temperatures rate very high on the list of weather events ranked by how much influence climate change has on them.


And heat waves are becoming both more common and more intense due to the warming climate.


"Prolonged extreme heat (in recent years) has been unprecedented since the start of reliable instrumental records in 1895," according to the US National Climate Assessment.


Already, extreme heat is one of the deadliest types of weather-related events in the US, killing an average of 702 people each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That's more than are killed in hurricanes, floods and tornadoes in most years.

Canada heat wave: More than 230 deaths reported in British Columbia amid historic heat wave - CNN

30 degrees feels nice and comfortable now. It was freaky on Monday night. It was cooler to keep the windows closed than to open them in the middle of the night.

Wife said she never experienced this kind of heat in the Philippines

Lytton broke the Canadian record again at 49.5 degrees. That's 4 degrees higher than the long time record that stood until last week. It was hotter than Death Valley yesterday.

That’s crazy. It doesn’t even get that hot here in Georgia.

The problem is the Canadians won't know how to deal with it. They probably haven't got shorts and t shirts and fans let alone AC.

Originally Posted by Cujo

The problem is the Canadians won't know how to deal with it. They probably haven't got shorts and t shirts and fans let alone AC.

Isn't it hot and humid AF where you are at sometimes ?

Looks like Lytton just got a whole lot hotter as it is on fire now and the whole town is being evacuated.

Originally Posted by Cujo

The problem is the Canadians won't know how to deal with it. They probably haven't got shorts and t shirts and fans let alone AC.

It's normal in many parts of Canada to have high 30's heat in the summer. We're used to that, but not into the 40's.

Originally Posted by pickel

not into the 40's.

We're used to that.

But of course situations are different.

We have serious air conditioning, for a start.

Originally Posted by cyrille

We're used to that.

Saudi?

These guys are idiots. Probably not hard to get disoriented in the smoke. Yesterday around Lytton

^ oh, here we go. These temps are going to bring some big fires.

Exactly. I was sitting in my living room watching the glow from flames on a mountain that seemed to be on fire just north of me here. Today visibility is down to maybe a mile because of the smoke. We've gotten to a point in the interior where the nights are almost as hot as the days, the woods are tinder dry. I'm afraid it's going to be a very smoky summer. We desperately need rain. Rain dance needed.

Originally Posted by pickel

Lytton broke the Canadian record again at 49.5 degrees. That's 4 degrees higher than the long time record that stood until last week. It was hotter than Death Valley yesterday.

Get ready to sweat your bag off again. 30-34 degrees Friday/Saturday.

Im getting sick of this heat shit.

Originally Posted by Backspin

Get ready to sweat your bag off again. 30-34 degrees Friday/Saturday.

Im getting sick of this heat shit.

I can handle that. 35 and up is where I get a bit stabby. Not sure I could make it if it goes over 40 again.

Originally Posted by pickel

Not sure I could make it if it goes over 40 again.

^
Yes, yes, we all know you're hard from years in the Saudi desert. But one word for you. Humidity.

And you probably spend all your time in a room with AC.

By the way, the number of deaths in the original post has been revised to 815.

Number of sudden deaths during B.C.'''s heat dome revised up to 815 — and more hot weather is on the way | CBC News

Originally Posted by Backspin

Get ready to sweat your bag off again. 30-34 degrees Friday/Saturday.

Im getting sick of this heat shit.

If I was you, I'd book an AirBnb with a swimming pool for the weekend and cool off in style.

I remember being in Rancho mirage many years ago in Summer it was very hot but dry heat. High temp plus humidity is the killer and some A/C systems will not cope. If the weather is in the 40s and humid that becomes very hard to cope with without A/C.

Originally Posted by pickel

And you probably spend all your time in a room with AC.

So, when you say you're 'not sure if you can make it' you mean you might have to cancel your hike or something?

Originally Posted by cyrille

So, when you say you're 'not sure if you can make it' you mean you might have to cancel your hike or something?

T'was more about losing my mind than dying, hence the part about feeling stabby.

And I don't have proper AC, such as a hard man like yourself.

To be honest, I'd be running the risk of a heart attack going on a hike in normal temps, let alone high heat. Gotta go back to work soon to get back into shape. Taking 3 months off may have been a poor decision.

Originally Posted by pickel

T'was more about losing my mind than dying

Ah, righto.

Because when one thinks of the typical Canadian male one thinks of tougher characters like lumberjacks, Mounti...oh yeah, actually...