Tunisia has been placed on high alert as a second severe heatwave grips the country, with temperatures climbing to nearly 50 degrees Celsius in parts of the nation.
The extreme heat, which began on Wednesday, saw the central city of Kairouan record 49.8°C, just below Tunisia’s national temperature record of 50.3°C set in 2021.
The National Meteorological Institute issued a high-alert warning for most regions for two days, while six Tunisian cities were listed among the 20 hottest locations worldwide.
As temperatures soared, large crowds sought relief along Tunisia’s Mediterranean coastline. Authorities urged residents to remain hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activities and stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day.
The heatwave has also compounded existing problems with electricity and water supplies. Temporary power outages and water shortages have affected large parts of the country during the summer.
President Kais Saied on Thursday blamed what he described as “premeditated acts” for the electricity disruptions, without identifying those he believed were responsible.
He said the outages, some of which have lasted more than 10 hours in certain areas, were “not simply temporary or isolated cases”.
Water shortages have been further aggravated by a scarcity of bottled water, prompting some supermarkets to impose limits on the quantity customers can purchase.
Much of Tunisia’s water distribution system relies on electrically powered pumps, meaning prolonged power cuts can directly disrupt water supplies.
The worsening basic-services crisis has also fuelled public discontent, with recent demonstrations calling for Saied’s removal and demanding better public services, lower living costs and an end to restrictions on political and civil freedoms.
Saied has ruled with extensive powers since 2021, when he dismissed the government and suspended parliament. Since then, rights groups and critics have raised concerns over increasing restrictions on independent media, civil society organisations and political dissent.
Dozens of government critics have been prosecuted or imprisoned, including under terrorism-related laws and legislation enacted by Saied in 2022 that criminalises the dissemination of what authorities consider “false news”.
The latest heatwave is therefore adding to a broader crisis for many Tunisians, as extreme temperatures coincide with persistent shortages of electricity and water and growing economic and political tensions.
