Cairo, August 18 (RHC)-- Health authorities in Egypt say more than 100 people, mostly elderly, have lost their lives in a blistering heatwave in the North African country for nearly two weeks. Egypt’s Health Ministry on Tuesday confirmed that at least 105 people have died from the stifling heat in the worst-hit regions over the past two weeks.

Most of these cases were recorded in the capital, Cairo, and provinces in Upper Egypt, south of the capital, where blistering temperatures continued to hover between 45 and 50 degrees Celsius.

Only on Monday, at least eight people lost their lives in heat-related incidents, while 173 others suffered from heat exhaustion during the day.

Patients in the El-Khanka psychiatric hospital as well as inmates in overcrowded police stations and prisons were among the casualties. The number of the victims suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion has surpassed the 1,000 mark so far.

Egyptian health officials have urged people, especially the elderly and all those suffering from chronic diseases, to stay indoors during the noon hours and not leave their houses unless in cases of urgency.

The health ministry also said children were at high risk of being negatively impacted by the blazing heatwave. It identified the elderly, especially those suffering from heart diseases, and high blood pressure and diabetes, as those most likely to be impacted by the blistering heatwave.

Meteorology officials say the sweltering temperatures are likely to continue for several more days.