extreme heat was the likely cause, with signs the trend could continue as the scorching temperatures move east.In British Columbia alone, the coroner’s office said Wednesday that it has received reports of at least 486 “sudden and unexpected” deaths over the past five days, when temperatures reached record levels across the province.That’s a 66-per cent jump from a normal five-day period at this time of year, the office said.“While it is too early to say with certainty how many of these deaths are heat related, it is believed likely that the significant increase in deaths reported is attributable to the extreme weather,” chief coroner Lisa LaPointe said in a statement.