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September 15, 2023

Deaths From Phoenix Heat Wave Top 200, With Another 350+ Heat-Related Deaths Under Investigation
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In Phoenix, Arizona, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health
reports at least 202 people have died due to this year's unprecedented
summer heatwave. Another 356 suspected heat-related deaths are under
investigation. Nearly half the confirmed deaths were among people
without permanent homes. More than 50 occurred indoors, usually when
people lacked air conditioning. Jeff Johnston is Maricopa County's chief
medical examiner.

Jeff Johnston: "It's hard to ignore 31 days of above 110 degrees in a
row and really shattering all of the previous records. But at the same
time, it's really, really important to not lose focus on the increased
number of vulnerable people in our society to these kinds of things."



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