Historic heat wave kills 233 in Canada : Soaring temperature forces British Columbia to shut schools and universities

Kids cool off at a community water park on a scorching hot day in Richmond, British Columbia

Getty Images

Reuters   |   Ottawa   |  01.07.2: The Canadian province of British Columbia suffered nearly double the average deaths as temperatures hit a record high of 46.6°Celsius (115.88° Fahrenheit) during the past four days of “extreme heat”, officials said on Tuesday.

At least 233 people died in the west coast province between Friday and Monday, about 100 more than the average for a four-day period, and the number was expected to rise as more reports were filed, officials said.

“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,” BC Coroners Service said on Monday.  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, Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said in a statement.

British Columbia closed schools and universities on Monday as temperatures soared.

Lytton, a town in central British Columbia roughly 200km (124 miles) north of Vancouver, reported a temperature of 46.6°C (115.88°F) on Sunday.

Canada is widely known for its brutal winter and snows, and prior to the weekend the historical high in Canada was 45°C, set in Saskatchewan in 1937, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The heatwave in the Pacific Northwest, which is more accustomed to long bouts of rain than sun, resulted from a high pressure system that wasn’t moving, said Greg Flato, a senior research scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada based in Victoria.

Coastal residents of the Pacific northwest, punished by three days of record-breaking heat, got relief as temperatures fell dramatically and cooler breezes blew in from the Pacific Ocean.

But the hot weather did not relent east of the Cascade Range in Oregon and Washington, where excessive heat warnings remained in place on Tuesday. Experts say the heatwaves that have descended on parts of the US this year cannot be linked directly to climate change. But unusual weather patterns could become more common.