Emergency, curfew because of heat

Algerian provinces notice a severe heat since more than a week, as it exceeded forty degrees in some coastal areas, and the phenomenon reflected the Algerians’ movement, and many of them were cut off from day activity, and shops were closed, while medical urgency was overwhelmed with patients who suffer from the sunburns and those with chronic diseases, as the Algerians’ nights turned to a day.

Echorouk paid a tour to some streets in Algiers, on Tuesday, like many other provinces, where temperature exceeded at 9:30 am 30 degrees, the streets were almost empty and people were wearing head umbrellas, while children were carrying water bottles, and most of the bus drivers launched a compulsory holiday due to the lack of passengers.

Citizens were interviewed by Echorouk and said they are forced to go out in this heat to buy a particular product quickly then go back home, and other interests like the extraction of documents, or going to the departments where they deferred this operation until Ramadan will end.

On the other hand, many Algerians were quick to cut off a part of Ramadan and Eid expenses to buy an air conditioning device that helps them to sleep in Ramadan.

High temperatures caused the escape of the majority of families from their homes immediately after Iftar, and head towards the sea beaches and tourist vehicles in coastal areas.

Residents of inland areas have but to go at night in the city centers or public parks, while the families in the desert found their refuge in some coastal provinces to escape from the scorching desert heat, and they rented homes in Jijel, Bejaia and Boumerdes (eastern Algeria), to spend the month of Ramadan and the summer holiday.

Meteorological services expect the stability of the heat at this rate until the end of the week, and temperature will fall, to rise again next Monday and remain high until after the Eid al-Fitr.

Expert in astronomy and geophysics, Loute Bonatiro, told Echorouk that the high temperature is normal and is linked to the phenomenon of going out of the season and entering in another season, and this period started from July 3 and will last for 20 days, and is characterized with thermal jumps that are known as “sirocco” which is characterized with heat during the day and mild air at night, followed by high temperature on July,24 and continues to the end of August and noticed a high temperature.

“High temperature has nothing to do with earthquakes, but could be an element that caused the seismic activity. Algerians should know that the summer of 2015 is moderate compared to the last years.”