Approximately 70 people have died in Quebec due to a heatwave that started in late June.
The extreme weather conditions, the worst to hit the province in decades, have gripped central and eastern Canada for almost a week as of writing.
Montreal has already raised the city’s response level from “alert” to “intervention” after an alarming rise in heat-related health issues were called in to the government’s health information line.
Montreal’s emergency services reported over 1,200 calls per day related to the heat, a rise of 30 percent compared to its previous busiest days.
Temperatures in Montreal reached 93 degrees (F) on July 4. Heat warnings were also issued for a large area of Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
David Kaiser, a physician at the Montreal’s Public Health Department, said none of the victims had access to air conditioning.
Local authorities have been making efforts at minimizing the effects of the extreme temperature, including opening swimming pools and air-conditioned areas to the public. Valérie Plante, the mayor of Montreal, also said that firefighters and police have visited 15,000 residents to make sure that they were doing alright.
“We’re doing everything we can,” Mayor Plante said at a news conference.
The authorities have also called upon the public to check on their neighbors to find out if they’re okay.