A severe heatwave has hit Libya today in the middle of ongoing and acute power cuts. The combination has boiled over into youth demonstrating at roads and erecting baracades out of burning rubbish and old tyres.
Demonstrations
Demonstrations have been reported, including in, Ain Zara, Hay Al-Andalous, Tajura, Airport Road, Zawia, and Gaser Ben Ghashir. Invariably, demonstrators believe that their areas are experiencing ‘‘marginalisation’’ by being forced to endure longer load sharing hours than other areas.
Temperatures
Libya’s National Meteorological Centre reported yesterday that the heatwave temperatures reached:
Misrata Airport: 46.0
Asbi'a: 44.4
Ghadames: 44.1
Mitiga Airport: 43.0
Yafran: 42.0
Nalut: 41.8
Gharyan: 40.9
Intimidation of GECOL personnel
Video clips have also appeared on social media of youth going to electricity substations and intimidating GECOL personnel accusing them of cutting power to their areas and attempting to force them into turning power back on to their areas.
Others have been videoed, dangerously, entering unlocked power substations and turning power on themselves – not bothering to use GECOL personnel.
Load shedding
GECOL operates a load shedding policy of organised power cuts areas. This aims to distribute available power to as many areas as possible within a 24-hour period. This, nevertheless, is no consolation to people as areas suffer 6, 8, 10 and even over 12 hours of power cuts.
This affects hospitals, the elderly, the ill, and causes fridges and freezers to melt – leading to the perishing of their contents. Power cuts also reduce quality and quantity of mobile phone and internet – a fact that might be adding to frustrated and agitating youth.
Exceptional public holiday
As a result, some municipalities have taken the unanimous decision to declare an exceptional public holiday for today. These include Tajura, Sug Il Juma and Tripoli Centre Municipality.
The Tripoli Centre Municipality announced the suspension of operations across all its departments, offices, and affiliated sectors today, due to a severe heatwave and ongoing power outages.
The municipality explained that the decision was made to ensure the safety of citizens and staff. It noted, however, that exceptions are made for entities whose operations require the continued provision of essential services or the use of a shift-based work system.
Health warnings
A health warning has been issued to the public. Citizens have been urged to adhere to safety guidelines, avoid direct exposure to sunlight during peak hours unless necessary, drink plenty of water and fluids, and take appropriate measures to prevent heat exhaustion in the interest of public health and safety.
Man fries egg in the sun!
On a lighter note, a man purporting to be in Bani Walid posted a short video clip of himself frying an egg in a pan in direct sunshine and at a temperature of 48 to 49 degrees Celsius. He said if this is what happens to the egg in these temperatures – what is it doing to our brains!?