Severe Heatwave Grips Tunisia as Extreme Temperatures Trigger Power Outages and Water Shortages

Tunisia is facing another spell of extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 49.8 degrees Celsius (121.6 Fahrenheit) in the central city of Kairouan on August 27. The heat has coincided with electricity cuts and water shortages in parts of the country, while doctors have warned of mounting pressure on emergency departments. The electricity and water disruptions are linked in some areas, but they have different underlying causes.

According to the Tunisian Observatory for Weather and Climate, Kairouan reached 49.8°C on August 27, making it the second-hottest location monitored worldwide that day behind Mehran in Iran, which hit 50°C. Six Tunisian cities ranked among the world's 20 hottest monitoring stations, nearing the national record of 50.3°C set on August 11, 2021. The blistering conditions have heavily increased electricity demand due to increased air conditioning use.

The Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG) implemented rotating power cuts across various regions to safeguard the stability of the power grid, with July demand potentially reaching a record 6,000 megawatts. Because parts of Tunisia's water distribution rely on electrically powered pumping stations, these blackouts have directly impacted water availability. For instance, on August 24, an outage halted the main Kerker pumping station, disrupting drinking-water supplies across the Mahdia and Sfax governorates, as reported by the National Company for Water Exploitation and Distribution (SONEDE).

However, water shortages are not solely caused by power outages. The World Bank notes that Tunisia has suffered from structural water scarcity and recurring drought for years. Additionally, bottled-water production has faced hurdles due to factory power rationing and a shortage of raw plastic materials.

The ongoing crisis has heavily impacted households, businesses, and the healthcare sector. The Tunisian Organization of Young Doctors reported an unprecedented surge in heat-related deaths and admissions, highlighting that Habib Bourguiba Hospital in Sfax recorded 13 deaths within 24 hours. While the Health Ministry recorded 633 heat-related medical consultations between July 1 and August 29, it did not release a nationwide death toll. Patients relying on home medical equipment like oxygen concentrators have also faced significant risks during outages.

President Kais Saied claimed that investigations suggest the disruptions stem from deliberate acts of sabotage rather than technical failures, though officials like STEG and SONEDE point to documented technical challenges and system strain. Amid growing public frustration, demonstrations—such as one in Tunis organized by the Nafas movement on August 20—have called for improved basic services, lower living costs, and greater political freedoms as the heatwave continues to test the nation's infrastructure.