Heat deaths surge in the US’s hottest city as governor declares statewide ‘heat emergency’

A jet takes flight from Sky Harbor international airport as the sun sets over Phoenix, Arizona.

A jet takes flight from Sky Harbor international airport as the sun sets over Phoenix, Arizona. Photograph: Matt York/AP

Phoenix

The heat expert leading efforts to make America’s hottest city more bearable insists that Phoenix could eventually eradicate heat deaths – despite July’s record-breaking death toll.