New Jersey heat wave kills 19 as Hurricane Bavi hits Rota

A severe heat wave across the U.S. Midwest and Atlantic coast was linked to at least 19 deaths in New Jersey, health commissioner Reiner Washington said. Many victims were found in homes without air‑conditioning, on streets or in parked cars. Governor Phil Murphy warned the weather was "extreme and dangerous," the longest period of extreme heat in over 14 years. The National Weather Service issued high‑heat alerts for roughly 160 million Americans and urged residents to stay indoors, hydrate and seek cooling centers.

At the same time, Hurricane Bavi, a Category 5‑strength storm with winds up to 290 km/h, struck the U.S. territory of Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands. Local officials reported severe damage to homes, flood‑related threats, and warned that large parts of the island could become uninhabitable for weeks. The island’s 1,500 residents were urged to take shelter immediately.