The western USA “bakes” in the heat wave, 57 million people under alert

A record heat wave that has already caused large fires in the western US states is expected to continue next week.

About 130 million people were under a heat warning over the weekend. Nearly 57 million people remain under a heat alert, while at least one child has already died in heat-related circumstances in Arizona.

Meteorologists warn that warm nights will make people suffer from heat stress. Temperatures could reach 53C in Death Valley on Monday.

While it is difficult to link heat waves to climate change, scientists say they are becoming more common and more intense because of it.