The death toll from the heatwave sweeping across Mexico continues to rise, with the latest figures from the Ministry of Health reporting 155 fatalities, including 30 deaths recorded between June 13 and June 18.
Additionally, at least 2,567 cases of health problems due to “extreme temperatures” have been reported since March 17, according to the weekly bulletin, amid the hot season that typically lasts from March to October.
The heatwave has been exceptionally deadly in the state of Veracruz, along the Gulf of Mexico, with 56 deaths, followed by Tabasco and the Yucatan Peninsula with 18, and three northern states – Tamaulipas with 17, Nuevo Leon with 12, and San Luis Potosi with 11 fatalities.
The deadly heatwave that struck the US, Mexico, and Central American countries in late May and early June was made 35 times more likely due to the impact of climate change, according to estimates by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network.
Several cities in Mexico recorded record-high temperatures, including the capital, which reached 34.7° Celsius on May 25.
However, the weather pattern abruptly changed this week as Tropical Storm Alberto brought heavy rainfall to the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon, resulting in the tragic deaths of four people, including three children.
The Ministry of Health warns that much of the country will continue to experience very high temperatures, with some areas reaching up to a scorching 45° Celsius in Baja California.
The heatwave has also taken a toll on wildlife, with dozens of monkeys dying in the forests of Tabasco and Chiapas (southern Mexico), where temperatures soared above 40° Celsius.
