Egyptian State on alert for heat wave's peak Thursday

CAIRO - 23 May 2019: The concerned authorities have adjourned the exams scheduled on Thursday for students of technical diplomas, the first secondary stage and Al-Azhar as the heat wave has peaked on Thursday.

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority expected the temperature to reach 45 degrees Celsius in Cairo and many other governorates. Eric Leister, a senior meteorologist, warned that the heat wave which extends from Egypt to Turkey jeopardizes millions of people.

"Any outdoor activities done in this heat could be very strenuous and potentially dangerous, leading to an increased risk for heat stroke and heat exhaustion," Leister wrote in AccuWeather, an American media company.


The Egyptian Meteorological Authority expected the temperature to reach 45 degrees Celsius in Cairo - Egypt Today/Khaled Kamel
Egypt's Ministry of Health advised elderly people and children not leave homes due to the extreme heat, noting that the elderly people and children are susceptible to be affected by such high temperature.

Alaa Eid, head of Preventative and Endemic Diseases at the Ministry of Health, said that there is a possibility of sunstroke, which may occur as a result of exposure to extreme heat and wet weather for long periods of time. He also advised patients with chronic diseases to avoid direct sunlight and to sit in ventilated areas.

Alaa Abdel Halim, the governor of the 1,124 square kilometer Qalyubia, ordered changing the working schedule of the street cleaners in the governorate due to the high temperature. According to the amended schedule on Thursday, street cleaners will work from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., while other workers will work from 3 p.m.

The Egyptian Ambulance Authority will deploy ambulance cars on the high-ways and provide all forms of treatment from sunstroke and heat stress, a source in the Ministry of Health told Egypt Today.


The Egyptian Meteorological Authority expected the temperature to reach 45 degrees Celsius in Cairo - Egypt Today/Khaled Kamel
President of the Cairo University Mohamed Othman al-Khosht ordered providing required medical staff, adding new fans and using the available air-conditioned halls for the final exams set to be held in the coming days.

In an interview with Egypt Today, Khosht said that he directed the deployment of ambulances and preparation of the university hospitals to receive students injured due to the rise in temperature.


The Egyptian Meteorological Authority expected the temperature to reach 45 degrees Celsius in Cairo - Egypt Today/Khaled Kamel
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced a state of alert to provide the country's water needs necessary for cultivation, industry, and drinking.

The ministry also affirmed canceling the holidays of all its engineers, regularly checking canals, banks and installations, and securing bridges and reservoirs to ensure the regular flow of water and maintain the water levels required.

The Cairo Metro ordered train drivers to run the trains at lower speeds at the first and second metro lines when running outside the tunnel on Thursday. The authority recommended running at 60 km per hour instead of 80.

Muslims around the world, including in Egypt fast from dawn to sunset everyday during the holy month of Ramadan, which ends this year in June, making them unable to drink water. However, many fatwas (Islamic opinions) have allowed fasting Muslims to eat and fast another day after Ramadan in case they experience excessive hunger or thirst, which can have bad consequences.


The Egyptian Meteorological Authority expected the temperature to reach 45 degrees Celsius in Cairo - Egypt Today/Khaled Kamel


The Egyptian Meteorological Authority expected the temperature to reach 45 degrees Celsius in Cairo - Egypt Today/Khaled Kamel


The Egyptian Meteorological Authority expected the temperature to reach 45 degrees Celsius in Cairo - Egypt Today/Khaled Kamel


The Egyptian Meteorological Authority expected the temperature to reach 45 degrees Celsius in Cairo - Egypt Today/Hassan Mohamed


The Egyptian Meteorological Authority expected the temperature to reach 45 degrees Celsius in Cairo - Egypt Today/Hassan Mohamed