Tunis: Several deaths have been recorded at hospitals in Tunisia amid a severe heat wave sweeping the country this summer, an independent doctors group said Saturday, calling for the declaration of a 'health emergency.'
According to Anadolu Agency, the Tunisian Organization of Young Doctors stated that emergency departments have seen an 'unprecedented increase' in deaths and hospital admissions due to heatstroke and soaring temperatures, including fatalities inside several emergency departments. Medical staff in these departments are facing significant challenges, dealing with pressures that exceed the capacity of the health system.
The organization mentioned that the Health Ministry had gathered data on deaths, heatstroke cases, and intensive care capacity, but official figures have not yet been released. In response to the situation, the organization has urged for the 'immediate declaration of a health emergency.'
Wajih Dhakkar, head of the doctors organization, reported on Facebook that 13 deaths were recorded within 24 hours at Habib Bourguiba Hospital in Sfax. Despite the urgency depicted by these figures, Tunisian authorities have not yet published official statistics related to deaths caused by the heat wave.
The intense heat wave, which began on Wednesday, has impacted most parts of Tunisia. Temperatures reached a staggering 49.8C (121.6F) in Kairouan, making it the second-hottest city globally after Mehran in Iran. The Tunisian Observatory of Weather and Climate identified six Tunisian cities, including Kairouan, Beja, Jendouba, Gabes, Tozeur, and Zaghouan, among the world's 20 hottest monitoring stations.
The heat wave has also led to temporary power cuts in several areas by the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas, which stated that these measures were necessary to maintain the safety and sustainability of the electricity system. Tunisian President Kais Saied commented on Thursday that prolonged water and electricity outages, which can last over 10 hours in some areas including the capital Tunis, 'cannot be considered merely passing events or isolated cases.'