US heatwave: NASA satellite photos show ‘exponential’ heat dome as 250 die and AC price gougers cash in
Temperatures have soared close to 50C as the US Pacific north-west and Canada is gripped by a heatwave that has already contributed to dozens of deaths.
The sweltering heat is being caused by a “heat dome” according to meteorologists, as temperatures climbed to 49.5C in Lytton, British Columbia, on Tuesday.
In Vancouver, the police department said it had redeployed dozens of officers and asked the public to call 911 only for emergencies because heat-related deaths had depleted frontline resources and delayed response times.
The force added that it had already responded to 130 sudden deaths since last Friday. In total, nearly 250 deaths have been reported across the Pacific Northwest
In the American west, temperatures hit a high of 46C in Portland, Oregon, as roads buckled, schools were closed and large wildfires continue to burn in the region.
Satellite photos from NASA showed the extraordinary temperatures in the Pacific Northwest compared to that of other portions of North America, as residents continue to grapple with record-breaking temperatures.
Price gougers attempted to take advantage of the high temperatures by selling air conditioning units in Washington for more than double the retail price. Facebook Marketplace stepped in and warned that users would be blocked from the service if they posted air conditioning units for more their retail value.
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Ask The Independent’s Climate Correspondent anything about California’s climate emergency
