A heatwave that has Americans sweating from the Atlantic to the Pacific has killed at least 12 people in the city of Phoenix, Arizona, dpa reported. Immigration officials said that a further 13 Mexican migrants had died from the heat as they tried to cross the scorching desert border, despite efforts of volunteer pilots who are parachuting water bottles over the desert passes in an effort to save the migrants' lives, according to the New York Times. Temperatures in Phoenix have exceeded the seasonal average of 41 degrees every day since June 29. The hottest day was Sunday when temperatures reached 46 degrees, but temperatures are expected to stay in the mid 40's for the rest of the week. "This is the deadliest heat wave that I can remember," Assistant Phoenix Fire Chief Bob Khan said. "For anybody living on the streets or who doesn't have a cooling system, it is a killer." The Colorado River Valley has been even hotter with the town of Needles, California exceeding 51 degrees. In Las Vegas, the city endured its eighth consecutive day of temperatures above 43 degrees. The Las Vegas Review reported that the heat wave may be responsible for at least four deaths in the area.
