At least 25 deaths have been linked to a record-breaking heat wave affecting large parts of the United States.

Axar.az reports, citing NBC, that the highest toll was reported in New Jersey, where the number of heat-related deaths rose to 22.

The victims were mostly people between their 30s and 80s, with fatalities recorded across 10 counties in the central and northern parts of the state.

“This is not a typical summer heat wave,” New Jersey Health Department spokesperson Dalya Ewais said in a statement. “This type of heat can quickly become life-threatening to humans and to animals of all ages.”

New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard Washington said many of the victims were found in homes without air conditioning.

“Unfortunately, many of these individuals were found in homes without air conditioning,” Washington said. “Few were outside of their residence, some on the street and some even in parked cars.”

Additional heat-related deaths were reported in Illinois and Mississippi as temperatures soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38°C) in parts of the country. Nearly 156 million people remained under heat alerts on Saturday as officials warned that dangerous conditions could continue in the coming days.