Mali: civilians swelter under record-breaking heatwave 

Mali civilians are struggling to cope with the ongoing heatwave that has descended across the West African region, reports Euronews and AFP. 

While it is approaching the hot season, temperatures this year in Mali are reaching record levels, as is elsewhere in the Sahel. Experts link the deadly heatwave to climate change.

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Souleymane Samake, a presenter at Benbakan community radio station in Bamako on the outskirts of the capital says most of his listeners are worried farmers who are sweltering under the heat.

“The provisional weather forecast predicts 41 degrees during the day. So, this interval will last for a week. Let’s be careful don’t go out, we must protect ourselves against this heat,” he tells listeners.

As temperatures rise, many industries have been severely impacted. Paired with an unprecedented electricity crisis is also plaguing the nation, leaving citizens with no respite from the heat. 

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The country’s ubiquitous ice sellers have also been under pressure, often patronised by those looking to cool drinks during the hot season. 

With many areas receiving less than six hours of electricity per day, many of them have gone out of business. 

Djeneba Dembele has been able to continue selling ice to her customers due to a combination of solar power and a generator.  

One of her clients, Dramane Traore, stated “We are at 32 or 35 degrees. By 2 pm, it will be 40 degrees. It’s unbearable, It’s so hot right now” he stated while buying two bags of ice. 

The heat has taken a toll on older people, with many cases of dehydration and heatstroke. Sick people have also been significantly impacted says Dr Kane Tounkara, from Sanakoroba’s public health clinic. 

Bamako’s Gabriel- Touré Hospital reported 102 deaths from the 1st- 4th of April, compared to 130 deaths in all of April last year.

Euronews/ AFP.