The health ministry of Morocco announced on Thursday that a heatwave in the central city of Beni Mellal has resulted in the deaths of at least 21 individuals within 24 hours.
The meteorology department reported that temperatures in many regions of the North African nation reached 48 degrees Celsius (118 Fahrenheit) from Monday to Wednesday.
According to a statement from the regional health directorate, the majority of fatalities in Beni Mellal were due to the deterioration of the health of the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, which the high temperatures made worse.
The ministry was unable to immediately confirm whether this was the highest recorded death toll from a heat wave in the country.
As of Thursday, temperatures in Beni Mellal, which is situated over 200 kilometres (150 miles) southeast of Casablanca, were still at 43 degrees.
As per the meteorology department, temperatures are anticipated to decrease in the upcoming days. In the tourism hotspot of Marrakesh, they are expected to drop by 10 degrees on Sunday.
A heatwave is a protracted period of extremely hot weather that may also include high humidity.
While the specific criteria for a heatwave can vary depending on the region, it generally involves temperatures that are significantly higher than the average for that time of year.
Heatwaves can pose serious health risks, particularly to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children, and those with pre-existing health conditions.
They can also cause disruptions in infrastructure, agriculture, and daily life.
Heatwave: Economic impact
Morocco has suffered a sixth consecutive year of drought, and record heat this past winter, with January being the hottest since 1940, according to the meteorology department, which had recorded temperatures approaching 37 °C in some places.
The rising temperatures and prolonged drought, which have lowered reservoir levels, are a threat to the vital farm sector.
Water evaporation reached 1.5 million cubic metres (53 million cubic feet) per day, Water Minister Nizar Baraka said at the end of June.
The High Commission for Planning said in May that the “labour market continues to suffer from the effects of the drought” and reported that the unemployment rate had increased to 13.7 per cent in the first quarter, up from 12.9 per cent in the same period of last year.
Around 159,000 jobs in the agricultural sector disappeared, the figures showed.
Morocco’s record temperature of 50.4 °C was set in August last year in the coastal resort city of Agadir.
Globally, Monday was the hottest day recorded since measurements began in 1940, the European Union’s Copernicus Earth observation programme said.
It has previously been predicted that daily records would be broken this summer in the northern hemisphere and that the planet would endure a particularly long period of intense heat due to climate change.
Scientists have linked climate change to more prolonged, stronger and more frequent extreme weather, including heatwaves.
Similarly, Hajj pilgrims faced an unexpected and brutal challenge: an unprecedented heat wave across Saudi Arabia, causing heat stroke, exhaustion and the deaths of many.
The climate of Saudi Arabia is notorious for its intense heat, especially during the summer months when Hajj typically occurs. This year, temperatures soared above 45 °C (113 °F), transforming the pilgrimage from a deeply enriching experience into a hazardous endeavour.
