Tunisia extreme weather and emergency response

In August 2026, Tunisia’s Ministry of Health announced a series of heatwave prevention and early warning measures. Led by Minister Mustapha Ferjani, the plan focused on utilizing forecasts from the National Institute of Meteorology to strengthen regional preparedness and coordination between health services and civil protection. The strategy included updating medical protocols, enhancing occupational medicine for workers, and launching public awareness campaigns for vulnerable populations.

By September, the National Office of Civil Protection (ONPC) reported record-breaking intervention numbers for the summer of 2026. In July alone, the agency averaged 756 interventions per day, including 5,532 fire-related responses. The summer was marked by extreme weather, with temperatures reaching 49°C in late August.

While maritime safety saw a 15% decrease in drowning deaths compared to 2025 due to reinforced surveillance by lifeguards and monitoring stations, the ONPC noted that 46% of drownings occurred at unsupervised beaches or outside of authorized swimming hours.