AT LEAST 34 people have died due to the unprecedented heatwave in eastern Canada this week, according to officials.
Temperatures in Quebec reached highs of 35C yesterday, with a heat index - meaning what the temperature feels like to the human body - of up to 45C.
Heat warnings have also been issued for much of Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Eighteen of the dead were reported in Quebec's provincial capital Montreal, according to regional public health director Mylene Drouin.
The majority of the victims there were men aged 53-85 living in vulnerable conditions without access to air conditioning, she added.
My thoughts are with the loved ones of those who have died in Quebec during this heat wave. The record temperatures are expected to continue in central & eastern Canada, so make sure you know how to protect yourself & your family: https://t.co/JSPPsU80x9
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 4, 2018
The remaining 16 deaths occurred in other parts of the French-speaking province.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted on Wednesday: "My thoughts are with the loved ones of those who died in Quebec during this heat wave,.
"The record is expected to continue in central & eastern Canada, so make sure you know how to protect yourself & your family."
In 2010, a heatwave killed around 100 people in the Montreal area.
Large parts of Ontario have experienced similarly sweltering conditions this week, though unlike Quebec no deaths have been reported there.
Environment Canada expected temperatures to cool on Friday with much less extreme highs of 23C to 25C over the weekend.
