33 deaths in Quebec attributed to heat wave
MONTREAL — The steamy conditions that have prevailed in Central and Eastern Canada for several days have contributed to 33 deaths in Quebec, officials said Thursday.
The number includes 18 in Montreal, seven in the Eastern Townships, five in central Quebec, two just south of Montreal and one in Laval, Horacio Arruda, Quebec’s director of public health, told a news conference.
Public Health Minister Lucie Charlebois said none of the deaths occurred in a hospital or long-term care facility and that the people who died were already suffering from health problems, including mental-health issues or drug and alcohol addiction.
Dr. Mylene Drouin, the regional director of Montreal’s public health department, said most of the 18 victims in the metropolis were men aged between 53 and 85 who lived in places with no air conditioning.
Drouin said ambulances have been very busy, with the Urgencessante service receiving more than 1,200 calls in Montreal on Wednesday and having to make 695 trips.
Earlier this week, Urgences-sante asked people to refrain from calling unless it was a real emergency.
Charlebois was asked about complaints from patients groups and health workers that some facilities are not equipped with air conditioning.
She said the health network has “done everything that is necessary,” considering the dilapidation of some buildings.
The heat wave is expected to continue across Canada.