Tunisia is experiencing an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring to nearly 50 degrees Celsius in parts of the country, exacerbating existing challenges related to power and water supply. On August 27, the central city of Kairouan recorded a temperature of 49.8 degrees Celsius (121.6 degrees Fahrenheit), one of the highest worldwide that day, according to the Tunisian Observatory for Weather and Climate. Only Mehran in Iran reported higher temperatures, reaching 50 degrees Celsius.

Alongside the extreme heat, several regions across Tunisia have been affected by electricity outages and water shortages. While these disruptions intersect in some locations, officials indicate that they stem from different underlying causes. The surge in electricity demand, driven by increased use of air conditioning systems in homes and businesses attempting to mitigate the heat, has put significant strain on the national power grid.

At the same time, water usage has spiked during the heatwave, amplifying pressure on water supply networks that were already coping with long-term scarcity issues. Medical professionals have raised concerns about growing demands on emergency departments, as extreme temperatures pose health risks, particularly to vulnerable populations.

The phenomenon underscores ongoing challenges facing Tunisia’s infrastructure amid climate-related stresses. On August 27, six Tunisian cities ranked among the 20 hottest monitored locations worldwide, highlighting the severity of the heatwave affecting the country. Authorities are managing the dual pressures of rising utility demand and public health risks as the heat persists.