PORTLAND, Ore. — At least two people are now believed to have died as a result of freezing temperatures brought to the Portland metro area by this weekend's winter storm, county officials reported.
One day after the Multnomah County Medical Examiner's Office reported it was investigating a suspected hypothermia death, the county announced Sunday afternoon that another suspected hypothermia death was under investigation, the second since a state of emergency was declared Jan. 12 ahead of the storm.
The first death reported, a man found in the 97232 zip code, was reported Friday. The second death, a man found in the 97217 zip code, was reported Saturday. No other identifying information about either of the men was reported by the medical examiner's office.
It will be weeks or months before investigators officially confirm if the death was hypothermia-related, which has been the case in past events.
"Both deaths are still considered suspected cases and are under investigation as potential cold-weather-related deaths," the county said in a news release. "Further tests and investigation will determine whether the deaths are officially cold-weather related. The county will update this information as it becomes available."
The county opened six overnight warming shelters Friday night as temperatures began to plummet and have opened several more as freezing temperatures persist in the Portland metro area.
RELATED: Multnomah County opens 3 more warming shelter sites Sunday night as freezing temperatures continue
For the latest information on available warming spaces and free transportation, call 2-1-1 or visit multco.us/cold. The county is also looking for volunteers to help at the warming spaces. Volunteers can sign up at multco.us/cold.
