US reels under scorching temperatures, heavy flooding

More than 50 million people in the US under heat warnings while hundreds are evacuated from flooding in the Midwest.

Soaring temperatures have placed more than 50 million people in the United States under extreme heat advisories, while flooding has spurred rescue operations and evacuations throughout the Midwest.

The National Integrated Heat Health Information System said on Monday that about 57.4 million people across the country were under active extreme heat advisories, watches, and warnings, down from 123.8 million on Sunday.

“The arrival of this more intense heat early in the Summer season leads to a higher level of heat-related stress, especially for those outdoors and without reliable air conditioning available,” the National Weather Service said in a report.

The soaring temperatures and deadly flooding underscore the risks of extreme weather fuelled by climate change, which has increased the frequency and intensity of such events.