595 people were killed by heat in B.C. this summer, new figures from coroner show

Nearly 600 people died due toextreme temperatures in British Columbiaover the summer, according to new data from the provincial coroners' service.

New figures released Monday said the deaths of 595 people between June 18 and Aug. 12 were related to the heat. The majority of those deaths 526 happened during the "heat dome"that created temperatures above40 Cfrom late June to early July.

The service said 231 people died in a single day on June 29 nearly 10 people every hour.

The staggering tally comesas health-care advocates, first responders and politicians try to determinewhat kind of action or inaction might have contributed to the number of people who died as a result of the incessant heat.

"The impacts, as we seeby today's report, were tragic, and the loss of life devastating," Health Minister Adrian Dix said during a news conference Monday. "It's vital that we learn from these events."

99% died at home or hotel

The data released Monday presents a clearer picture of the people who died and where they lived in B.C.

Nearly 70 per cent of those who died were over the age of 70. More than half lived in the Fraser Health Authority area, while roughly a quarter lived in the Vancouver Coastal Health region.

Vancouver, Surrey and Burnaby saw the highest numbers of deaths by town,with 99, 67 and 63, respectively.

The mayor of Prince George, a city further north in B.C., said thenews that12 people died in his own community was a "complete shock." The city saw a higher numbersdeaths per capita than more populated cities likeRichmond or Nanaimo.

"For me, the underlying factor is, were these folks homeless?For people who are living on the street, it's the weather that impacts them the greatest. I would like to see the breakdown," said Lyn Hall.

Ninety-nine per cent of people died after overheating inside a home or hotel. The remainder died after being in the heat outside or in a public building, such as a business or community centre.

The percentage of men to women was similar, though slightly more women died. No children died.

'No longer a one-in-1,000-year event'

Early analysis by climate groups in July found the heat wave would have been "virtually impossible" withoutclimate change.

Some groups said extreme events are intensifying and becoming more common as greenhouse emissions continue, making more extreme heat waves a likely part of B.C.'s future.

"It has now happened,"Dix said Monday.

"It's no longer a one-in-1,000-year event it's a one-in-one-year event,and we need to respond and become more resilient, not just as a health-system, but asa province."

In total, more than 800 sudden deaths were reported to the coroner betweenJune 25 and July 1.

Monday's data confirms 526 of those deaths were a direct result of extreme temperatures during the heat dome.A report from Human Rights Watch last monthfound lack of government supportleft the elderly populationand people living with disabilitiesat risk during the heat and that a lack of a provincial heat response plan contributed to "unnecessary suffering and possibly deaths."

Report on every death expected in 2022

The coroneruses two criteria to classify a death as heat related, the statement explained:either the person's environment or body temperature is consistent with hyperthermia, or there is evidence to supportthat heat would have been a significant factor in their death, such as medical history.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe saidby identifying patterns and factors in each of the deaths, the province will be "in a betterposition to prevent future similar tragedies.''

Shesaideveryone in B.C.must begin to prepare for future extreme weather events.

"Having a plan to regularly check in with loved ones who live alone, being aware of cooler and air-conditioned areas in your neighbourhood, and heeding early warnings about extreme weather are simple steps that will help ensure we are all properly prepared and safe,'' Lapointewrote.

The statement said all of the deaths arebeing investigated and reports on each fatality should be finished by early 2022.