Within 24 hours 21 people died in Beni Melal, in a city in central Morocco, because of a of a new heat wave that hit the countrywhich is in its sixth year of drought, as announced today by the Ministry of Health.

The Directorate General of Meteorology (DGM) had announced the arrival of a strong heat wave from Monday that would last until yesterday, Wednesday, in many areas, with temperatures that may have reached 48 degrees Celsiusmainly in Beni Mellal.

“The majority of deaths they are people who suffered from chronic diseases and the elderlywith the high temperatures contributing to the deterioration of their health condition and leading to their death,” the regional health directorate clarified in a statement.

Morocco recorded record heat this winter, with January being the hottest month on record since 1940 (reaching almost 37C in places), according to DGM.

Rising temperatures threaten the agricultural sector, which is key to the national economy, and water reserves in dams. Water evaporation has reached one and a half million cubic meters per day,” said Water Resources Minister Nizar Baraka at the end of June.

The national record for the highest temperature was recorded in August 2023 in Agadir (south) with 50.4 degrees Celsius.