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Breaking SoCal Heat Wave Leaves 27 Dead

Eight days of triple-digit temperatures hits hard

By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 6, 2007 4:07 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Southern California's heat wave finally seems to be breaking after killing at least 27 people in crushing temperatures. The deaths include an elderly couple who told neighbors they were turning off their air conditioning to save money. Several victims died while illegally crossing the US-Mexico border in searing heat.

Crews are still working to restore electricity to as many as 29,000 homes. Some people have been without power for three days while temperatures soared well into the triple digits for eight days. "We felt like we were being tortured," said one resident who lost power repeatedly. "It was horrible—lots of hot, still nights."

A young girl plays in the fountain at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Aug. 15. 2007. A heat wave continues in Southern California with National Weather Service reporting area temperatures in the high 90s expected throughout the week. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported...
A young girl plays in the fountain at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Aug. 15. 2007. A heat wave continues in Southern California with National Weather Service reporting area...   (Associated Press)
A street side digital thermometer shows the temperature in cathedral City, Calif., Thursday, July 5, 2007. Southern California's farming areas and deserts baked in triple-digit heat on Thursday as authorities opened cooling shelters for the elderly and urged people to turn down the air conditioning to reduce electrical demand. (AP...
A street side digital thermometer shows the temperature in cathedral City, Calif., Thursday, July 5, 2007. Southern California's farming areas and deserts baked in triple-digit heat on Thursday as authorities...   (Associated Press)
A pedestrian reaches for the mister as he walk down the main shopping area of Palm Springs, Calif., Thursday, July 5, 2007. Southern California's farming areas and deserts baked in triple-digit heat on Thursday as authorities opened cooling shelters for the elderly and urged people to turn down the air...
A pedestrian reaches for the mister as he walk down the main shopping area of Palm Springs, Calif., Thursday, July 5, 2007. Southern California's farming areas and deserts baked in triple-digit heat...   (Associated Press)
Odessa Dodd, of Goldbar, Wash., uses a mister to fight the 106-degree heat before the start of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Sharp Aquos 500 at the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007. (AP Photo/Dave Waters)
Odessa Dodd, of Goldbar, Wash., uses a mister to fight the 106-degree heat before the start of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Sharp Aquos 500 at the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007....   (Associated Press)
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Why as many as 40,000 homes lost power
Los Angeles Times

Temperatures finally drop below 100
Reuters

US

 
California • elderly • Southern California • electricity • heat wave • power outage

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