🇩🇿AlgeriaNorth Africa
Five Algerian cities rank among the world's hottest as heatwave persists
via Algérie3602 min read
Five Algerian cities were ranked among the world's hottest on Friday, July 24, according to EldoradoWeather. Biskra registered the highest temperature globally at 49.4 °C, followed by Ouargla at 49.1 °C, and El Oued at 48.9 °C. Hassi Messaoud recorded 48.8 °C, and Touggourt reached 48.7 °C, completing the list of the top five hottest cities. This extreme heat is attributed to a "heat dome" phenomenon, where a high-pressure zone over North Africa traps hot air from the Sahara, preventing cloud formation and sea breezes. The National Meteorological Office ONM explained that this phenomenon has caused temperatures to reach up to 50 °C in some areas. The heatwave has also led to over 160 fires across the country, affecting more than half of the municipalities in certain wilayas, resulting in six deaths and the destruction of thousands of hectares of forests and agricultural land. The Minister of Interior stated that the majority of fires have been brought under control with the deployment of 18 aerial firefighting units, Civil Protection, and the National People's Army. The government is assessing damages to compensate victims, and judicial investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fires, some of which are suspected to be criminal. The high energy demand during this period also caused electricity outages in 16 wilayas. An easing of the heatwave is expected early next week with a drop in atmospheric pressure and the arrival of cooler north-westerly winds.
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