The heat wave continues to garner causalities in Egypt as the death toll due to heat stroke rises to 61 in three days. The Health Ministry announced Wednesday that hospitals across the country received 581 cases of heat exhaustion on Tuesday. Of those, 337 were released after recovery, while 21 died, with no children among the causalities, according to a statement by the ministry. The heat wave, affected by the India's monsoon depression, raised concerns over the readiness of Egypt's health institutions to deal with the matter. Since the start of August, the recorded maximum temperature has regularly exceeded 40°C while humidity rates reached higher than 90% at certain points of the day. According weather forecasters, the heat wave is not expected to break before 20 August. The deaths also extended outside hospitals as three inmates died on Monday in a Cairo police station. 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. However, the health ministry outlined the symptoms of heat stroke and ways to avoid it through its official newsletter to the public. 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.
