Multnomah County, Ore. (Aug. 19, 2023) — The Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Program late Friday, Aug. 18, reported it is investigating a suspected heat death associated with this month’s heat emergency.
The individual was found deceased in northeast Portland and was last known to be alive Aug. 13. The individual may have been exposed to any of the elevated temperatures experienced this week, the medical examiner’s office said.
No other details are being reported at this time.
It is the fifth death suspected of being heat-caused during the August heat emergency. The Medical Examiner is also investigating four other suspected heat deaths reported Monday, Aug. 14, in southeast Portland; Tuesday, Aug. 15, in a Portland hospital, Wednesday, Aug. 16, in northeast Portland, and Friday, Aug. 18, in northeast Portland.
All five suspected deaths reported by the Medical Examiner are considered preliminary suspected cases and are under investigation as potential heat-related deaths.
It can take weeks to months to determine cause and manner of death as further tests and investigation will determine whether the deaths are officially heat-related. The County will update this information as it becomes available.