25 Dead as Extreme Heat Sweeps US

At least 25 people have died across the US amid an intense heat wave, including 22 fatalities in New Jersey, according to local health authorities.

Temperatures in Washington reached 38.8°C during Independence Day celebrations, breaking a record that had stood for more than a century. New York also recorded temperatures near 38°C, causing asphalt to soften in parts of the city.

Heat-related deaths were also reported in Illinois and Mississippi as extreme temperatures and severe weather strained power grids across several states.

More than 840,000 households were left without electricity on Saturday as the combination of scorching heat and storms disrupted energy supplies.

Several cities along the East Coast cancelled or postponed Fourth of July events because of the extreme weather, underscoring the growing impact of heat waves on public safety and infrastructure in the US.