Heatwave in Morocco claims 21 lives
In Morocco, temperatures rise up to 48 Degrees. The heatwave affecting the country claims more than 20 lives. Cooling expected only over the weekend.
In Morocco, more than 20 people have lost their lives due to a heatwave within the last 24 hours. The Moroccan Health Ministry reported that 21 heat-related deaths occurred in Beni Mellal, the city located in the center of the country in the Maghreb region.
According to the local health authorities, among the deceased were chronically ill and elderly people. The heat "contributed to the deterioration of their health conditions and led to their deaths." The Moroccan Health Ministry assured that medical care would be expanded due to the extreme heat.
According to the Moroccan Meteorological Department DGM, some parts of the country were hit by a heatwave from Monday to Wednesday. Temperatures reportedly rose to 48 degrees, particularly in Beni Mellal. The city, which lies about 200 kilometers south-east of Casablanca, still recorded 43 degrees on the current Thursday.
Climate change leads to increase in unemployment
For the coming days, a cooling trend was forecasted. The temperature in Marrakesh was predicted to drop from 45 degrees on Thursday to 35 degrees by Sunday. Morocco has been experiencing its sixth consecutive year of extreme drought. The previous winter was the hottest since 1940, with temperatures reaching up to 37 degrees in some areas.
Experts suggest that global climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves and droughts. In Morocco, the drought, according to the authorities, is so severe that it leads to an increase in unemployment in the agriculture-dependent country.
The ongoing heatwave, classified as international in scope, has severely affected Morocco. Despite the predicted cooling trend, temperatures in Beni Mellal are expected to remain high, potentially reaching 43 degrees on Thursday.
