MONTREAL—More than 90 people are now believed to have died as a result of a July heat wave in Quebec, with new figures showing that 53 deaths in the city of Montreal alone may be linked to elevated temperatures.The latest statistics indicate that at least 91 people across the province likely died when temperatures spiked as high as 35.3 C during the week of July 1 to July 8.The true number of those killed by the extreme heat and humidity is expected to be revealed only in the fall when the Quebec health ministry completes a thorough medical investigation into the causes of death.Previous provincewide statistics put the number of deaths at 70, including 34 from Montreal. But a report from the regional public health directorate has pushed the number of Montreal deaths to 53, according to preliminary results of an investigation released Wednesday.Public health officials in Laval, a suburb north of Montreal, said that it had also revised its death toll after finding that seven deaths had been linked to the heat wave, up from five. The deaths in Laval cover the period between June 29 and July 9.In Montreal, the increase in heat-related deaths comes from cases linked to the consumption of drugs and alcohol, the report said.Single men, the elderly and the mentally ill were also deemed to be vulnerable, as were those with heart and breathing problems and those without air conditioning.The report said three-quarters of those who died due to the heat lived in private apartments, while eight lived in seniors residences and four lived in rooming houses.Allan Woods is a Montreal-based reporter covering politics and current affairs in Quebec. Follow him on Twitter: @WoodsAllan
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