The record breaking temperatures in the city that have been roasting California for days have claimed the lives of two senior citizens in San Jose.

A 72-year-old man and an 87-year-old woman passed away from heat-related illnesses on Monday this week, said the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. Days of punishing heat probably aggravated any existing illnesses they may have had and contributed to their deaths, said Joy Alexiou, a department spokeswoman.

“It’s a cumulative effect of days on end of high heat,” she said.

Dr. Michelle Jorden, chief medical examiner for Santa Clara County, said hyperthermia and heat stress occurs when a person’s heat-regulation system can’t handle hot temperatures.

“It is tragic when someone dies of hyperthermia since in most every case it could have been prevented,” she said in a statement.

This Monday, temperatures in San Jose reached 94 degrees (F).

Across the Sacramento Valley and inland communities, temperatures soared past 100 degrees and hit a record-breaking 113 degrees in Redding. The previous high for Redding was 104 degrees, set in 1988.

In Southern California on Tuesday, temperatures in the low desert communities were “among the highest ever recorded,” the weather service said. Death Valley hit 127 — seven degrees shy of the hottest temperature ever recorded on the planet.

Meanwhile, health officials urged Californians to drink plenty of water, take cool baths or showers and stay indoors.

“Extreme heat such as this is not just an inconvenience, it can be dangerous and even deadly,” said Santa Clara County Executive Dr. Jeffrey Smith. “But we can protect ourselves, our families and our neighbors if we take steps to remain cool and hydrated.”

AMandeep