This archive report was first published on 1 July 2021.
June 29, 2021 - A scorching heat wave has brought western Canada and the northwestern United States to a standstill, with temperatures soaring to record-breaking highs and emergency services stretched to the limit.
At least 134 people have died suddenly in the Vancouver area since Friday, with hundreds more reported across British Columbia, according to Canadian police and the local coroner.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the situation as 'unprecedented,' with temperatures reaching 121 degrees Fahrenheit (49.5 degrees Celsius) in Lytton, British Columbia, a new all-time high temperature record for the country.
President Joe Biden warned that the threat of western wildfires this year is as severe as it's ever been, with the fire season already outpacing last year's record-breaking wildfires that burned over 10 million acres across the United States.
Climate change is being blamed for the record-setting temperatures, with the decade to 2019 being the hottest recorded and the five hottest years all occurring within the last five years.
As the heat wave continues to grip the region, emergency cooling centers have been set up in cities across the western United States and Canada, with outreach workers handing out water and hats to those in need.
