At least seven deaths blamed on dangerous Pacific Northwest heatwave

The International Fountain at Seattle Centre is packed with children amid the heatwave (Ellen M Banner/The Seattle Times/AP)

Authorities in Portland, Oregon, said they would keep cooling shelters open until Sunday night as a likely record-breaking heatwave brought scorching weather to the normally temperate region.

At least seven people are suspected to have died from hyperthermia since the hot spell began a week ago.