The Maricopa County Medical Examiner says he is certain the number of heat-related deaths this summer will surpass last year’s record.
Maricopa County has confirmed 133 heat-related deaths so far this year — that’s a 60% increase from the same point last summer. Another 341 possible heat deaths are still under investigation.
“We won’t know until all of the work is done, but looking at this past summer versus the previous summer, which had far surpassed previous records, I definitely expect that number to be larger," Dr. Jeff Johnston, Maricopa County chief medical examiner told KJZZ News.
Heat deaths have broken records in Maricopa County every year since 2016. 425 heat deaths were confirmed last year — nearly quadruple the number reported just a decade earlier.
Johnston said people experiencing homelessness, older adults with medical conditions, and people struggling with addiction tend to be at the highest risk.
