Heat-related deaths filling California morgues
Published 9:00 pm Thursday, July 27, 2006
FRESNO, Calif. – Corpses piled up at the morgue Thursday, and aid workers went door-to-door, checking on elderly people in hopes of keeping the death toll from California’s 12-day heat wave from rising.
California coroner’s offices said the number of deaths possibly connected to the heat wave climbed to 90.
In Fresno County’s morgue, the walk-in freezer was stuffed with bodies, with some piled on top of others, said coroner Loralee Cervantes. With limited air conditioning, employees worked in sweltering heat as they investigated at least 22 possible heat-related deaths.
“It’s never been like this in my years here,” Cervantes said. “This is really tragic.”
The mercury dropped slightly in some areas Thursday, with Sacramento, at 98 degrees, getting its first double-digit high in 12 days, but Fresno hit 112 on Thursday and Bakersfield hit 106.
In Stanislaus County, which includes Modesto, officials were investigating whether sizzling temperatures were responsible for 20 deaths. Salvation Army workers walked door-to-door to check on elderly and other vulnerable residents.
Kern County was investigating eight possible heat-related deaths. Among the victims were two Bakersfield brothers who were found dead in their beds in a home without air conditioning.
July has seen extreme heat across the country. In St. Louis, the misery was worsened by storms that knocked down power lines last week in the worst blackout in city history.
Most of the 12 Missouri deaths attributed to the heat wave occurred in the St. Louis area, where about 36,000 homes and businesses remained without power Thursday afternoon.
