Four heat-related deaths suspected in American state of Oregon

Portland, Oregon:Record daily high temperatures in Oregon were suspected in four deaths reported in the Portland area Monday as much of the country co...

Portland, Oregon: Record daily high temperatures in Oregon were suspected in four deaths reported in the Portland area Monday as much of the country continued to swelter under an early heat wave.

California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Idaho on Monday were under an excessive heat warning, the National Weather Service's highest alert, while parts of the East Coast as well as Alabama and Mississippi were under heat advisories.

The death of a motorcyclist Saturday in California's Death Valley also was blamed on the severe heat.

In Oregon’s Multnomah County, home to Portland, the medical examiner is investigating four suspected heat-related deaths recorded on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, officials said.

Three of the deaths involved county residents who were 64, 75 and 84 years old, county officials said in an email. Heat also was suspected in the death of a 33-year-old man transported to a Portland hospital from outside the county.