Morocco is currently grappling with an intense heatwave that has claimed over 20 lives in the past 24 hours in the central city of Beni Mellal, according to the health ministry.
Meteorologists report that temperatures soared to as high as 48 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country from Monday to Wednesday.
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Officials indicate that most of the deceased were elderly or had chronic illnesses, with the extreme heat exacerbating their conditions. Citizens are being urged to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and to avoid going outdoors during peak heat periods.
In Beni Mellal, located over 200 kilometers southeast of Casablanca, temperatures remained high at 43 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
However, meteorologists predict that the heatwave will subside in the coming days. In Marrakesh, a popular tourist destination, temperatures are expected to drop by 10 degrees on Sunday.
This heatwave marks Morocco’s sixth consecutive year of drought and follows a record-breaking hot winter, with January being the warmest since 1940.
The prolonged drought and rising temperatures have significantly lowered reservoir levels, posing a threat to the crucial farming sector.
The European Union’s Copernicus Earth observation program noted that this past Monday was the hottest day globally since records began. It has also predicted that daily temperature records will continue to be broken this summer in the northern hemisphere due to climate change.
