A severe heatwave in Morocco has resulted in the deaths of at least 21 people within a 24-hour period in the central city of Beni Mellal, the health ministry announced on Thursday.
The meteorology department reported that soaring temperatures affected much of the North African country from Monday to Wednesday, reaching up to 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions.
In Beni Mellal, most of the deceased were individuals suffering from chronic illnesses and the elderly, with the high temperatures worsening their health conditions, the regional health directorate stated.
Morocco is currently experiencing its sixth consecutive year of drought and record heat, with January being the hottest month in the country since 1940. The meteorology department recorded temperatures nearing 37 degrees Celsius in certain areas.
The prolonged drought and rising temperatures have significantly impacted Morocco’s vital agricultural sector by lowering reservoir levels. Water evaporation reached 1.5 million cubic meters per day, Water Minister Nizar Baraka revealed at the end of June.
Morocco’s record temperature of 50.4 degrees Celsius was set in August last year in Agadir, located in the southern part of the country.
Scientists attribute these extreme weather conditions, including more frequent and intense heatwaves, to climate change.
