Multnomah County announced another two potential victims of this week’s heat wave, bringing the total of couonty residents suspected of dying from hyperthermia to five.
Across Oregon, nine people may have died from the heat, including three others in Multnomah County, two in Marion County and one each in Clackamas and Umatilla counties.
Multnomah County officials said Sunday that the medical examiner is investigating two deaths that occurred Saturday. The county announced three earlier suspected heat-related deaths last week, when temperatures hovered in the high 90s and hit triple digits on Tuesday and again on Saturday.
State officials have said it could take several weeks to months to confirm the deaths are from hyperthermia.
A year ago during the historic heat dome, nearly 100 people died across Oregon including 72 who died in Multnomah County. Seniors, people who live alone and those with medical conditions face higher risks in a heat wave, especially if they do not have access to air conditioning.
~ Laura Gunderson, 503-221-8378, lgunderson@oregonian.com
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