Heatwave in Morocco demands 21 lives
In Morocco, temperatures rise up to 48 Degrees. The heatwave affecting the country has claimed more than 20 lives. There will be a cooling down only over the weekend.
In Morocco, more than 20 people have lost their lives due to a heatwave within the last 24 hours. According to the local health authority in Beni Mellal, the central city in Morocco, 21 heat-related deaths have been reported.
The victims were reportedly chronically ill and elderly people, with the heat exacerbating their health conditions and leading to their deaths. The Moroccan Health Ministry assured that medical care would be expanded due to the extreme heat.
According to the Moroccan meteorological office DGM, some parts of the country have been hit by a heatwave from Monday to Wednesday. Temperatures reached as high as 48 degrees, particularly in Beni Mellal. The city, located 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 down was forecasted. The temperature in Marrakesh was predicted to drop from 45 degrees on Thursday to 35 degrees by Sunday. Morocco has been experiencing extreme drought for the sixth consecutive year. The previous winter was the hottest since 1940, with temperatures reaching 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 heatwave in Morocco, which has claimed over 20 lives, has been declared an international concern by various environmental organizations. On Thursday, Beni Mellal, still experiencing temperatures of 43 degrees, is expected to feel the cooling effects of the heatwave over the weekend.
