The phenomenon covering western Canada appears increasingly deadly, as authorities link it to an increase in deaths in British Columbia, and observers worry about the number of victims and the wildfire season that is to come, Toronto Star informed today. Scorching temperatures are beating down over much of the western region of the continent, and rising temperatures are an extreme event consistent with a changing climate, the newspaper stated.

The Coroners Service of British Columbia saw a ‘significant increase’ in deaths in recent days. It normally receives about 130 reports in a four-day period, but it has seen 233 between Friday and Monday this week, although a spokesperson said that this is not yet clear how many could be attributed to the heatwave, reports state.

Over several days of extreme heat, Canadian authorities expect to see 100 to 200 more deaths than usual, The Star informed.

In just the first month of summer, much of the Northern Hemisphere, the Pacific Northwest, and Canada are immersed in an unprecedented heatwave.

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