Total number of deaths from B.C.'s summer heat dome nudges nearly 600: coroner

The BC Coroners Service has released updated numbers showing 595 people died in the province during extreme heat events over the summer.

That's an increase from the 569 deaths confirmed by the coroners service at the end of July.

A statement from the coroner and the Ministry of Public Safety says all the deaths are being investigated and reports on each fatality should be complete by early 2022.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says by identifying patterns and factors in each of the deaths, the province will be ``in a better position to prevent future similar tragedies.''

The release says 526 of the deaths occurred between June 25 and July 1, when a heat dome caused record-breaking temperatures over most of the province, including the all-time highest temperature in Canada.

The coroner says 131 people died on June 28, while there 231 deaths on June 29, the same day the mercury reached the Canadian high of 49.6 C in Lytton, the day before a wildfire destroyed that village.