Heat wave in Mexico leaves at least 100 dead, authorities say

MEXICO CITY June 30 (BNA): At least 100 people have died over the past two weeks in Mexico from heat-related causes as temperatures soared to nearly 50C (122F) in parts of the country, the health ministry said. Thursday.

A three-week heatwave this month has strained the power grid with record demand, forced authorities to suspend classes in some areas and left many Mexicans sweltering in the heat, reports Reuters.

More than two-thirds of the deaths occurred in the week of June 18-24, with the remainder in the previous week, the ministry said in a report on extreme temperatures. During the same period last year, only one heat-related death was recorded.

Almost all deaths were attributed to heatstroke, with a handful from dehydration. About 64% of the deaths occurred in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, which borders Texas. Most of the rest were in neighboring Tamaulipas and Veracruz on the Gulf Coast.

In recent days, temperatures have dropped as the rainy season brings much needed rain.

However, some northern cities still experience high temperatures. In the state of Sonora, the town of Aconchy saw a high of 49 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday.

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