'Unprecedented' rise in deaths due to extreme heat in Tunisia
29.08.2026 - 20:55 | Last Updated:
AA
It has been reported that, due to the extreme heat affecting Tunisia, there has been an "unprecedented" increase in the number of people seeking treatment for heatstroke and heat-related illnesses at hospital emergency rooms, as well as in the number of deaths.
In a written statement issued by the Tunisian Young Doctors’ Organization, it was noted that an “unprecedented” increase had been recorded in the number of people hospitalized and those who lost their lives due to heatstroke and extreme heat in emergency rooms across various regions of the country. The statement noted that fatalities had occurred in some emergency rooms, adding that doctors and nurses were working “under pressure that exceeded the capacity of the health system” and were experiencing “extreme fatigue.”
It was noted that relevant units of the Tunisian Ministry of Health are collecting data on heat-related deaths, heatstroke cases, and intensive care unit capacity, but have not yet released official figures. The Tunisian Young Doctors’ Organization called for a “state of emergency in healthcare” due to the current situation.
In a post on his Facebook account yesterday evening, the organization’s president, Vecih Zekkar, stated that 13 people had died within 24 hours at the Habib Burgiba Hospital in the eastern city of Sfakes. Tunisian authorities have not yet released official statistics regarding deaths linked to the heat wave.
TEMPERATURE REACHED 49.8 DEGREES
During the severe heat wave that has affected much of Tunisia since Wednesday, August 26, temperatures in the central city of Kairouan were recorded at 49.8 degrees. According to data from the Tunisian Meteorological and Climate Observatory, Kairouan became the second-hottest city in the world, following Mehran, Iran, where temperatures reached 50 degrees.
The Observatory reported that six of the world’s 20 hottest locations are in Tunisia, with Kairouan, Beca, Jendouba, Gabès, Tuzer, and Zagwan among them.
POWER OUTAGES ACCOMPANY HEAT WAVE
The extreme heat wave coincided with the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG) resuming temporary power outages in various regions of the country. STEG stated that the outages were carried out to “protect the security and sustainability of the electrical system.”
Tunisian President Kays Said also stated in a statement on Thursday, August 27, that prolonged water and power outages—which can last more than 10 hours in some regions, including the capital Tunis—“cannot be considered merely temporary incidents or isolated cases.”