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Tunisia is enduring a severe heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 49.8 degrees Celsius (121.6 Fahrenheit) in Kairouan, the central city, on August 27. This extreme heatwave, coinciding with power cuts and water shortages, has placed immense pressure on the country's infrastructure and public health services.
The Tunisian Observatory for Weather and Climate reported that Kairouan was the second-hottest location globally that day, trailing only Mehran in Iran, which reached a scorching 50°C. Six Tunisian cities were among the world's 20 hottest monitoring stations, with temperatures approaching the national record of 50.3°C set on August 11, 2021.
The intense heat has surged electricity demand, with the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG) reporting a record 6,000 megawatts of demand in July. The high demand, primarily driven by the extensive use of air conditioning, has led to rotating power cuts across the country, affecting various regions and causing interruptions lasting several hours.
The power cuts are not the sole cause of the disruptions. Tunisia's water-distribution system, which relies on electrically powered pumping stations, has also been affected. An interruption at the main Kerker pumping station on August 24, for instance, halted drinking-water supplies in several areas of the Mahdia and Sfax governorates.
Tunisia has long been grappling with water scarcity and recurring droughts. The World Bank has described the country as facing increasing water scarcity and climate pressures, supporting projects to enhance the reliability and resilience of drinking-water services. The current electricity cuts are exacerbating an existing water problem, rather than creating a new crisis.
The heatwave and power cuts have also impacted bottled-water supplies. The Associated Press reported that power rationing disrupted factory operations, and production was affected by shortages of raw plastic materials. This shortage cannot be solely attributed to electricity cuts.
For households, losing electricity during a heatwave means more than just darkness. Air conditioners and fans cease to function, refrigerators and freezers stop cooling, and prolonged outages can lead to difficulties in preserving perishable food. For businesses, prolonged outages can result in lost refrigerated stock and disrupted operations.
The heatwave is also placing immense pressure on emergency departments. The Tunisian Organization of Young Doctors reported an "unprecedented" increase in deaths and hospital admissions associated with heatstroke and extreme temperatures. On August 29, the organization called for the government to declare a health emergency, noting that doctors and nurses were under severe pressure.
Wajih Dhakkar, head of the organization, cited a figure of 13 deaths within 24 hours at Habib Bourguiba Hospital in Sfax, a figure provided by the doctors' organization and not an official nationwide death toll. The Health Ministry reported 633 cases requiring medical consultation and healthcare management related to the effects of the heatwave between July 1 and August 29.
For patients who rely on electricity-dependent medical equipment at home, power cuts can create particular difficulties. Oxygen concentrators, for example, require electricity to operate, and reports have emerged of challenges faced by patients whose home medical equipment was affected by the power cuts.
As Tunisia battles this intense heatwave, the country's infrastructure and public health services are under immense strain. The government and relevant authorities must act swiftly to mitigate the impact of the extreme weather conditions and ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens.
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