According to the country’s health ministry, eight individuals have tragically lost their lives in the third heatwave to hit Mexico since mid-April. This information was revealed on Friday.
The capital city, Mexico City, experienced record-breaking temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) during the course of this week.
Between April 14 and June 12, seven of the victims succumbed to heatstroke, while one suffered from dehydration. This was reported by the health ministry in an official statement.
In Monterrey, located in the northeastern part of the country, temperatures soared above 40C. This extreme heat, coupled with reduced water pressure in homes and increased demand for electricity, including air conditioning, led to power outages.
Wendy Tijerina, a resident of Monterrey, attributes the intensity of the heat to the city’s industrial zone. She expressed her struggles with water scarcity and power cuts, making it difficult to keep her family cool and hydrated.
The government of Nuevo Leon state, where Monterrey is located, has taken measures to protect children from the sun’s rays by limiting their school hours to only two hours a day.
Last year, Mexico declared a drought emergency in certain regions due to a heatwave and lack of rainfall, which resulted in depleted reservoirs.
In some cities, including Monterrey, households were restricted to only a few hours of running water per day for several weeks.
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Eight people die in Mexico heatwave (2023, June 18)
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