Exceptional Heatwave Grips North Africa
The North African region is currently experiencing an extraordinary heatwave caused by a strong heat dome that has settled over the southwestern Mediterranean. A heat dome is a powerful atmospheric high that traps hot air in the lower layers of the atmosphere, limiting its rise and the renewal of air masses, which consequently leads to soaring temperatures both during the day and at night. This heat dome is particularly concentrated over Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, especially in their eastern regions.
Forecasts suggest that the heatwave is expected to peak over the weekend and continue until the middle of the following week, with temperatures anticipated to reach between 45 and 48 degrees Celsius, with warnings indicating that they could approach 50 degrees in some areas. Meteorological authorities in these countries have urged residents to follow preventive guidelines, which include drinking plenty of water, avoiding direct exposure to sunlight during peak hours, and refraining from strenuous physical activities, while paying particular attention to the elderly and those living alone.
Tragic Fire at Orphanage in Algeria
In Algeria, a tragic incident occurred in which 11 children lost their lives, and 19 others were injured in a fire that broke out early Thursday at a child welfare institution in the municipality of Mohammedia, east of the capital, Algiers, as reported by the Civil Protection Authority. Several injured individuals were transferred to a specialized burn treatment hospital, while rescue teams evacuated five disabled children to a safe location. This incident took place during a severe heatwave and a noticeable increase in the number of fires across the country. The Civil Protection reported 932 fires nationwide between July 8 and July 15, successfully extinguishing 913 of them by Wednesday morning. These fires affected forests, brushlands, agricultural crops, and urban areas.
Authorities have not announced any connection between the heatwave and the fire at the 'Childhood Rescue' institution, and investigations are ongoing to determine its causes. The Civil Protection Authority has mobilized over 19,000 personnel and more than 700 fire trucks and intervention vehicles to combat wildfires, along with six helicopters and 12 water-dropping aircraft. Authorities evacuated residents from fire-threatened areas to safer locations, particularly in the Bouira, Mila, and Bejaia provinces, according to the official Algerian news agency.
As the electrical grid faced widespread outages due to a technical fault at a major facility in the Sidi Akba region of Biskra, the authorities announced the restoration of electricity to 16 provinces. This outage coincided with a record increase in electricity consumption due to the heatwave.
Social media users have reacted strongly to the orphanage fire in Algeria, with many expressing their condolences for the victims, particularly the children. Others have called for an investigation to uncover the circumstances of the fire and hold those responsible accountable for any negligence. One user expressed solidarity by stating, "From Morocco to Algeria, we share your sorrow. O Lord, these are Your children, with no father but You and no mother but Your mercy," praying for their souls and for comfort for their loved ones.
As reported by bbc.com.
