Health officials in Maricopa County, Arizona, reported nearly 500 deaths from heatstroke this summer, making 2023 the region's deadliest year on record for extreme temperatures.

among them Latest weekly fever reportThe Maricopa County Department of Public Health announced that 469 heat-related deaths have been confirmed so far this year, and 153 additional deaths are still under investigation.

This number exceeds the previous record of 425 heat-related deaths recorded in the county last year.

Across the United States, extreme heat causes more deaths each year than other weather events such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. According to the National Weather Service. The threat is expected to worsen in the coming years, as studies show that climate change is increasing the frequency, intensity, and persistence of heat events.

This summer, Arizona and other parts of the Southwest have been sweltering with temperatures reaching triple digits for several weeks.

In Phoenix, located in Maricopa County, residents endured 31 consecutive days of heat above 110 degrees Fahrenheit in July, breaking the city's record of 18 consecutive days above 110 degrees Fahrenheit, set in 1974. It was an epoch-making record to break.

Also in July, daily high temperatures approached 120 degrees in Maricopa County and the number of heat-related deaths skyrocketed. According to the report, about 150 people died from heatstroke in the county in just one week, from July 16 to July 22.

More than 60% of confirmed heat-related deaths in Maricopa County were among adults age 50 and older. People aged 50 to 64 were most affected by the extreme heat, accounting for 29% of heat-related deaths in the county.

Health officials said 44% of heat-related deaths were among people experiencing homelessness, and 45% of deaths were among people living in housing. According to the report, 11% of those who died had unknown living conditions.

Non-Hispanic whites accounted for 58% of heat-related deaths in Maricopa County, Hispanics or Latinos accounted for 23%, and blacks or African-Americans accounted for 13% of heat-related deaths.

Health officials said 122 people died indoors, 92 of whom were found without working air conditioning and 11 with no air conditioning installed at all.

Even when not fatal, heat remains a major public health threat in Arizona. Maricopa County saw a spike in hospital visits in July and early August as temperatures soared well above 100 degrees, according to the report.