100 Mexicans died of heat wave as temperature nears 50C

At least 100 people have died over the past two weeks in Mexico due to heat-related causes as temperatures climbed close to 50C in some parts.

A three-week heat wave this month strained the energy grid with record demand, forced authorities to suspend classes in some areas and left many Mexicans sweltering.

More than two-thirds of the deaths came the week of June 18-24, with the remainder the previous week, the health ministry said on Thursday in a report on extreme temperatures.

During the same period last year just one heat-related fatality was registered.

Nearly all the deaths were attributed to heat stroke, with a handful from dehydration. Around 64 per cent of the deaths occurred in the northern state of Nuevo Leon bordering Texas. Most of the rest were in neighbouring Tamaulipas and Veracruz on the Gulf coast.

In recent days, temperatures have fallen as the rainy season brought much-needed precipitation.

However, some northern cities are still seeing high temperatures. In the state of Sonora, the town of Aconchi saw highs of 49C on Wednesday.