Authorities in Quebec announced the death of 54 people because of a heat wave hitting the eastern part of Canada since the end of the past month.
Health authorities told AFP that 28 fatalities caused by the "overwhelming heat" were recorded in the Montreal area, while the other victims were reported in the southwest of the French-Canadian province.
Health Ministry spokeswoman Noemie Vanheuverzwijn said: “Looking at the weather forecast, we are waiting for a return to normal in the coming hours.”
On Twitter, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed solidarity with the heat wave’s victims, and called citizens to “make sure to protect themselves & their family.”
In 2010, a heat wave that hit the country killed 100 people in Montreal.
