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Heatstroke claims at least 27 lives in Bangladesh

Death toll could rise; 100s affected in brutal heat spell

Patients have been left on hospital floors as the city battles record-breaking heat.

DHAKA, Bangladesh — A heat wave in Bangladesh has claimed at least 27 lives and affected hundreds more, with experts warning the death toll could rise as temperatures continue to soar.

The victims, most of whom were elderly or had pre-existing conditions, died of heatstroke in the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere in the country, officials said.

The heat wave began last week and has sent temperatures soaring to record highs. On Wednesday, the city Department of Health issued a heat suspension at 11:08 a.m., but at least 100 people have been affected by the heat and are being treated in hospitals.

Hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients, and some have been forced to leave patients on the floor due to a lack of beds.

The government has set up cooling centers in the city and is urging people to stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day.