Breaking SoCal Heat Wave Leaves 27 Dead

Eight days of triple-digit temperatures hits hard
By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 6, 2007 4:07 AM CDT
Breaking SoCal Heat Wave Leaves 27 Dead
A young girl plays in the fountain at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Aug. 15. 2007. A heat wave continues in Southern California with National Weather Service reporting area temperatures in the high 90s expected throughout the week. The Los Angeles Department of Water and...   (Associated Press)

Southern California's heat wave finally seems to be breaking after killing at least 27 people in crushing temperatures. The deaths include an elderly couple who told neighbors they were turning off their air conditioning to save money. Several victims died while illegally crossing the US-Mexico border in searing heat.

Crews are still working to restore electricity to as many as 29,000 homes. Some people have been without power for three days while temperatures soared well into the triple digits for eight days. "We felt like we were being tortured," said one resident who lost power repeatedly. "It was horrible—lots of hot, still nights." (More heat wave stories.)

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