Extreme Heat Leaves Five People Dead in USA

An unprecedented heat wave in most of America has caused five deaths and, in southwestern Michigan, it buckled pavement on an interstate, forcing the roadway to close for a few hours on Wednesday.

Forecasters said it could take several days to lower temperatures in some areas of the country, which are now 32 to 38 degrees Celsius (90 to 99 Fahrenheit).

Philadelphia hit 97 degrees, breaking a 2008 record of 95, and Atlantic City, N.J., tied a record of 98 set in 1999. Chicago reached 94 by mid-afternoon Wednesday.

Public schools in Philadelphia and parts of New Jersey and Maryland suspended classes for the coming days due to heat. Some cities opened cooling centers as a refuge for those without air conditioning.

Source: AP