The third heatwave to slam Mexico since mid-April has claimed eight lives, according to the nation’s health ministry on Friday.
This week, the capital of Mexico City saw temperatures reach a record high of 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).
Between April 14 and June 12, the victims lost seven of their lives to heatstroke and one to dehydration, according to the ministry.
Temperatures over 40°C caused lower water pressure in residences and power outages in the northeastern city of Monterrey. There was also a rise in the demand for electricity, including for air conditioning.
Wendy Tijerina, a Monterrey resident, said the heat is more intense because the city lies in an industrial zone.
“There is a lack of water, you can’t bathe the children or even use a fan because they cut the power,” she told AFP.
She claimed that in order to prevent heatstroke, her family tries to drink a lot of water.
The administration of the state of Nuevo Leon, where Monterrey is situated, has restricted the amount of time kids spend in school to two hours every day in order to escape the sun.
A heatwave and a lack of rain last year caused reservoirs to become low, leading Mexico to declare a drought emergency in some areas of the nation.
For several weeks, only a few hours a day of flowing water were provided to homes in various areas, including Monterrey.
