Tunisian Heatwave Exacerbates Electricity and Water Crisis

Tunisia is grappling with an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 49.8 degrees Celsius (121.6 Fahrenheit) in Kairouan, one of the country's central cities. The scorching weather, combined with widespread power cuts and water shortages, has placed immense strain on local infrastructure and health services.

The Tunisian Observatory for Weather and Climate reported that Kairouan was the second-hottest location globally on August 27, 2026, with temperatures trailing only Mehran in Iran. Six Tunisian cities ranked among the world’s 20 hottest monitoring stations that day, and the reading was a mere 0.5°C shy of the country's record of 50.3°C set on August 11, 2021.

The soaring temperatures have significantly increased electricity demand as homes and businesses rely on air conditioning to cool down. Additionally, the intense heat has elevated water demand, putting pressure on a water-distribution system that is already grappling with long-term shortages.

In response to the excessive demand, the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG) has implemented rotating power cuts in several regions across the country. Officials have attributed the electricity cuts to the extreme heat, with demand reaching up to 6,000 megawatts in July—a significant increase from the 5,600MW recorded only days prior.

The outages have affected a wide range of areas in Tunisia, with some residents experiencing interruptions that lasted several hours. In addition to the power cuts, the water-distribution system is also being affected, as parts of it depend on electrically-powered pumping stations. When these stations are disrupted due to power outages, water distribution is compromised.

The World Bank has previously described Tunisia as facing growing water scarcity and climate pressures, and is supporting projects aimed at improving the reliability and resilience of drinking-water services. The current electricity cuts are exacerbating the existing water challenges, rather than creating a new crisis from scratch.

The heatwave and subsequent disruptions have also impacted bottled-water supplies. The Associated Press reported that power rationing disrupted factory operations, resulting in increased demand for bottled water during the heatwave. Additionally, production was affected by shortages of raw plastic materials.

For households, losing electricity during a heatwave means more than just the loss of light. Air conditioners and fans cease to operate, refrigerators and freezers stop cooling, and prolonged outages can leave perishable food unsafely stored in the heat. Businesses, particularly those that rely on refrigeration, may also face substantial losses and operational disruptions.

In hospitals, the intense heat is placing pressure on emergency departments. The Tunisian Organization of Young Doctors reported an "unprecedented" increase in deaths and hospital admissions associated with heatstroke and extreme temperatures. The organization called for the government to declare a health emergency, emphasizing the severe pressure on medical staff.

The Health Ministry confirmed that 633 cases related to the effects of the heatwave had been recorded between July 1 and August 29, without providing a nationwide death toll. The ministry also stated that health services had continued without interruption, with medical and technical resources being mobilized to address the situation.

For patients who depend on electricity-dependent medical equipment, such as oxygen concentrators, power cuts present particularly difficult challenges. There have been reports of difficulties faced by patients whose home medical equipment was affected by the ongoing outages.

The current situation in Tunisia highlights the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure in the face of extreme weather events. As the world continues to experience the impacts of climate change, it becomes increasingly important to invest in resilience and adaptability to protect vulnerable populations from the compounded effects of extreme heat and disruptions to essential services.