Heatwave Causes at Least 53 Deaths in Multnomah County, 79 statewide
The state medical examiner believes 79 people died in Oregon due to the heatwave. According to data obtained by The Oregonian, 53 of those deaths occurred in Multnomah County.
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According to the Multnomah County Medical Examiner Program, the people ranged in age from 44 to 97, and many were found alone without air conditioning or a fan. The preliminary cause of death for all 45 people is hyperthermia, or an abnormally high body temperature.
Comparatively, from 2017 to 2019, Oregon recorded 12 deaths from hyperthermia.
I know many county residents were looking out for each other and am deeply saddened by this initial death toll, said Multnomah County Health Officer Jennifer Vines in a press release. As our summers continue to get warmer, I suspect we will face this kind of event again.
Read more: https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2021/06/30/34610800/heatwave-causes-at-least-45-deaths-in-multnomah-county