Ahmed Abdel Aal, the head of Egyptian Meteorological Authority, said that a heatwave will strike starting Tuesday and will last for 48 hours, where temperature might go over 40°C. Abdel Aal told state media that drivers on high roads are advised to consider the morning fog.
Despite the escalating crisis, no combat measures were announced by the cabinet in that regard, which could have included providing public facilities with much needed ventilation. So far, the Health Ministry has not outlined the symptoms of heat stroke and ways to avoid it through its official newsletter to the public.
Since the start of July, the recorded maximum temperature has regularly exceeded 40°C, while humidity rates reached higher than 90% at certain points of the day. According to weather forecasters, the heat wave will be extended to the end of this week.
With older citizens being the most affected by the heat, the ministry urged citizens—especially the elderly, those who suffer from chronic diseases, and children—to take the required protective measures. These include not being directly exposed to the sun, especially around noon, and not to leave home except for the utmost necessity.
Early this week, officials in the underground metro said that the metro cars will reduce speed to avoid going out of service due to the heat. In the last weeks, the metro broke down on several instances.
The last similar heatwave in Egypt took place in 2015 and caused the death of more than 100. Among the deaths were prisoners and patients who died, due to poor ventilation and conditions inside hospitals and prisons.
A heat wave is currently affecting several areas in the world.
Japan has been hit with intense heat for the last two weeks. Kumagaya, a city north of Tokyo, hit 41.1°C on Monday, setting a new national temperature record. Ome, a Tokyo suburb, recorded 40.3°C—the first time temperatures over 40°C have been recorded in the capital’s metropolitan area. Kyoto’s annual Gion Matsuri parade was cancelled on Sunday following seven straight days above 38°C.
More than 50 wildfires—10 more than the previous day—are now alight across central and western Sweden, but also above the Arctic Circle, authorities confirmed on Friday.
Sweden’s head of civil defence, Dan Eliasson, said fire crews were struggling to bring the most ferocious forest fires in years under control.
He said four of the fires had become too large for firefighters to extinguish. And with no rain in sight, the situation was unlikely to improve over the weekend, he said.
