Heat Wave in Oregon Leaves More Than 60 Dead, Including 45 in Multnomah County

The state of Oregon recorded more than 60 deaths amid the historic heat wave in the western region of the United States.

Because of this, Oregon officials launched investigations concerning the deaths that happened throughout the state in the past days, USA Today reported.

Oregon State Police spokesperson, Captain Tim Fox, noted that the death toll as of Wednesday, June 30, was based on every county's medical examiner's office reports, Oregon Live reported.

Oregon Officials Say Pacific Northwest Heat Wave May Be the Culprit

Fox said the 63 deaths were reported from six counties, namely Marion, Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas, Columbia, and Umatilla Counties, since Friday.

Fox noted that preliminary investigations by the State Medical Examiner's office suggest the deaths may be associated with the Pacific Northwest heat wave.

"Heat exhaustion happens when your body isn't able to regulate its own temperature, and it begins to rise," Dr. Caroline King-Widdall said in a statement released by the Kaiser Permanente Northwest.

Marion County reported nine deaths, while Washington County reported five. On the other hand, Clackamas County reported two deaths, while Columbia and Umatilla Counties reported one death each.

Multnomah County took the highest blow as the county reported at least 45 deaths from health issues related to the hot weather in the past few days.

The individuals who died in Multnomah County ranged from 44 to 97 years old. The victims include 17 women and 27 men.

The county emphasized that the people who died had underlying health conditions, and many of them were found alone without air conditioning or a fan.

"This was a true health crisis that has underscored how deadly an extreme heat wave can be, especially to otherwise vulnerable people," said Multnomah County Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Vines.

The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office noted that the reported death toll was deemed "active death investigations," and that the number of fatalities due to heat wave will likely change in the next few days. The state examiner's office further noted that "more information is being gathered in each case."

Oregon: Uptick in Hospitalization Due to Heat Wave

Meanwhile, the Oregon Health Authority reported an uptick in hospitalization due to health issues related to hot weather.

The Oregon Health Authority said at least 274 patients sought emergency care for ailments such as heat stroke and dehydration on Monday, June 28.

The National Weather Service noted that temperatures in Oregon hit 117 degrees on June 28. USA Today reported that heat causes more death in the U.S. than any other natural disaster combined.

Apart from the record-breaking temperatures in the west, such as Oregon, the outlet noted that scientists expected more frequent and intense heat waves in the coming days due to climate change and the historic drought.

WATCH: 63 People Died in Oregon Heat Wave - From KGW News