A biker was reported dead Sunday (Jul 7) in California's Death Valley National Park as the temperatures there soared above 53 degrees Celsius. Another rider, who was part of the same group of six motorcyclists, was rushed to a Las Vegas hospital after suffering “severe heat illness”. The other four members of the group also received treatment at the scene.

Park superintendent Mike Reynolds warned that high heat like this "can pose real threats to your health."

“Besides not being able to cool down while riding due to high ambient air temperatures, experiencing Death Valley by motorcycle when it is this hot is further challenged by the necessary heavy safety gear worn to reduce injuries during an accident,” Reynolds said.

Heat crisis in US

The US has been reeling under an intense heatwave for the last few weeks now, with about 36 million people or 10 per cent of the country's population living under excessive heat, as per the National Weather Service (NWS).

Death Valley National Park too recorded a record temperature of 53.3 degrees Celsius late Saturday (Jul 6), surpassing the previous record for July 6.

Over the weekend, many areas in the west and Pacific north-west witnessed record-breaking temperatures.

In northern California, the mercury soared over 43.3 degrees Celsius, with Redding city recording temperature above 48 degrees Celsius.

Increased wildfire risk

Owing to the increased temperatures, stronger winds and dry air; the NWS has warned of a greater risk of wildfires. The authorities had to evacuate parts of Santa Barbara County in southern California late Saturday as the Lake Fire engulfed more than 13,000 acres over the last 24 hours.