Egypt heatwave death toll almost reaches 100

A heatwave over the past week has killed at least 93 people in Egypt, the state news agency says, with temperatures set to remain high over coming days.

Detainees and older people are members of two of the groups at the greatest risk of death during the heat wave.

MENA gave the new death toll Friday and said most of those who died were elderly.

Patients in the El-Khanka psychiatric hospital, as well as inmates in police stations and jails, were among the casualties, according to local media reports.

Authorities warned against exposure to direct sunlight.

Additionally, 206 people were hospitalised after experiencing heat-related fatigue, including 63 in the Upper Egypt governorate of Sohag alone. It advised readers to stay inside, drink plenty of fluids and avoid very humid locations, as humidity can rapidly lead to dehydration.

August is usually a hot month in Egypt, but this year temperatures have been higher than average, reaching 40 degrees in Cairo and 46 in southern Egypt.