Heatwave hits Africa, kills 61 in Egypt

At least 61 people have been confirmed dead, following a massive heatwave in Egypt, the country’s ministry of health has confirmed.

The heatwave which drove extreme temperatures in the north African country has led to the admission of about 600 people in various hospitals across the country.

According to Hossam Ghaffar, a spokesperson from the country’s ministry of health, the problem faced by the country is not just high temperatures but the attendant humidity.

“There is a big rise in temperature compared with previous years. But the problem is the humidity which is affecting people more,” he said.

“Long exposure under the sun is a killer.”

MENA news agency quoted the health ministry saying, heatstroke killed 21 people on Tuesday and 40 people on Sunday and Monday.

Most of Tuesday’s victims were elderly, the ministry added.

Local media have reported that some of the deaths from the heatwave occurred in psychiatric wards and prisons where ventilation is a challenge.

Temperatures peaked at 46˚C earlier in the week as meteorological officials say the temperature would drop to 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 Farenheit) on Wednesday.

Heatwave has killed more than 2,000 people in India and over 700 in Pakistan in 2015 alone.