At least 25 people die in US as record heatwave scorches swaths of country

Key Points:

• At least two dozen people have died due to a severe heatwave driven by the climate crisis, with New Jersey reporting 22 deaths linked to extreme temperatures affecting multiple counties.
• Over 140 million people across more than 20 states experienced temperatures above 100°F (38°C), leading to widespread heat alerts and disruptions to Independence Day celebrations, including event cancellations in Washington DC.
• Heat-related fatalities were also reported in Illinois and Mississippi, with victims often found in homes without air conditioning or outdoors, highlighting the deadly impact of prolonged heat exposure.
• The National Weather Service predicts cooling temperatures in the coming days as the heatwave moves south, but experts emphasize that such extreme heat events underscore the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to combat the climate crisis.
• Emergency services treated dozens of heat-related illnesses during the holiday weekend, reflecting the ongoing public health risks posed by record-breaking heatwaves across the United States.