Extreme heat strains Tunisia's power grid and disrupts water service
Tunisia introduced rotating power cuts as temperatures approached 50C, with some outages also interrupting electrically powered water pumps.
Kairouan reached 49.8C on August 27 as air-conditioning demand pushed Tunisia's electricity system toward record loads. The state utility said rotating cuts were intended to protect the grid.
An outage stopped a major pumping station on August 24 and disrupted drinking-water service in parts of two governorates. Health authorities also reported hundreds of heat-related consultations since July 1.