Heat a possible factor in 12 Maricopa County deaths
PHOENIX — Officials are investigating the heat as a possible factor in 12 deaths in metro Phoenix last week as temperatures soared to 119 degrees.
Maricopa County Department of Public Health officials said they have opened investigations into the deaths to determine if they are heat-related.
Phoenix has been in the midst of a heat wave that has produced five days with temperatures hotter than 115 degrees (46 degrees Celsius) in one week. That ties the city’s record set 22 years ago of days above 115 degrees.
Other Arizona counties have reported at least 4 heat-related deaths since last week, including an elderly couple found dead in a home in Pinal County with a broken air conditioning unit.