Up to 126 people have died due to the stifling heat wave that has seared California in the last two weeks, the state government said Friday.
Officials confirmed 69 deaths and autopsies are being conducted to confirm 57 other cases believed to be related to the extreme heat, said Roni Java, a spokesman in Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Office of Emergency Services.
Up to 88 men and 38 women have died, Java said in a statement. The youngest victim was 20 years old and the oldest 95.
The emergency services said three Mexicans succumbed to the heat after illegally crossing the southern border. The border patrol and the Mexican consulate told AFP four migrants had died, however.
The high temperatures also killed about 25,000 cattle and 700,000 fowl in central California.
Temperatures have surpassed 40 C (104 F) in several parts of the state, and soared to a record 48 C (118 F) west of Los Angeles on Saturday.
Authorities say the state had not seen such high temperatures in 57 years. The temperatures fell back to their seasonal norm on Friday.
