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2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 JULY 2023 2 Blackouts across Malta CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 If not promptly treated, it can progress to heat exhaus- tion or heatstroke and become life-threatening. The spokesperson also con- firmed that three other patients had dehydration as one of the main causes of their death. Europe is experiencing some of the hottest temperatures of sum- mer 2023 so far, as a 'heat dome' expands over the southern half of the continent. This weather pattern allows a warm air mass to build up under a high-pres- sure system, creating stable and dry conditions. Temperatures on Tuesday reached a high of 42°C, with the Met Office issuing a red weather warning for the second consec- utive day. The problem was further ex- acerbated with multiple areas across the country experiencing prolonged power cuts, with cer- tain localities like Naxxar spend- ing 12 hours without any elec- tricity at one stretch. Sources who spoke to this newspaper said the persons were found dead at their personal household, but the health minis- try could not confirm the infor- mation. During the period 22 and 23 July, there were 34 deaths, and most deaths were due to cardi- ovascular conditions or chronic exacerbations of other chron- ic conditions, according to the spokesperson. "The health authorities are again alerting on the effect of the heatwave on the health of every- one but especially vulnerable persons and to take actions that protect health and seek medical support if they have any signs or symptoms of heat effects," he said. The ministry on Monday, is- sued a health warning on the nigh temperatures, urging peo- ple to stay inside. Opposition leader calls for state of national emergency Opposition leader Bernard Grech has called on government to declare a state of emergency, and put police, army and every public building with energy at disposal of the nation. Grech addressed a press con- ference in Birzebbugia right opposite the bay hosting the Delimara power plant, to call on Abela to "get out of holiday mode". "The PM must declare a na- tional state of emergency, open the lines of communication to people experiencing serious problems due to water and ener- gy issues, because no pecuniary compensation will make good for what they are enduring; and put the police, army and public buildings with energy at the dis- posal of the public." Grech said Abela had failed the country by not investing in the electricity distribution sys- tem of the country that was now buckling under the pressure of July's soaring temperatures and the climate crisis, and numerous technical faults in underground cable channels. "It is shameful that even Mater Dei Hospital, Malta's only pub- lic hospital, has had to endure a power cut." Greens to convene protest outside parliament Meanwhile, ADPD, the Green Party, has called for a protest outside the House of Represent- atives on Thursday evening, over the nationwide power cuts crisis. "It is evident that the country is on its knees due to continuous power cuts. This means a huge burden on families and busi- nesses. Everyone is affected, but the most affected are the vulner- able who are already crushed by inflation and wages that do not meet their basic needs," ADPD chairperson Sandra Gauci said. "Instead of costly massive pro- jects and an economic policy based on overdevelopment and speculation, which led to an overburdened and inadequate infrastructure we demand a wellbeing economy. Corruption in the energy sector has led to expenditure on a power station and abandonment of the elec- tricity distribution network." The Greens said expansionary planning had increase the de- mand for energy on infrastruc- ture by as much as 20 times, through planning largesse and permits for apartment blocks. Gauci said the government's economic drive for unbridled development and cheap labour, coupled with the effects of the climate crisis, had exposed La- bour's failure to act over the last decade. ADPD announced 10 policies that include a moratorium on big developments, zero-carbon builds, energy co-ops running RE plants, revision of the build- ing boundaries, and obliging in- dustries to move towards zero carbon operations. "We need to shift Malta to a wellbeing economy, one that is not based on the excessive use of natural resources, the exploita- tion of people, and dependence on imported energy," ADPD said. Deputy chairperson Mina Jack Tolu encouraged the public and all those impacted by the power cuts to sign a petition with AD- PD's 10 concrete actions which will be delivered to energy min- ister Miriam Dalli. ADPD expressed solidarity with the Enemalta workers who had become victims of a situ- ation it said was down to the carelessness of ministers and the government. PN calls on prime minister to declare state of emergency Mark Anthony Sammut (left) and Bernard Grech (right) in a press conference in Birzebbuga Left to right: ADPD's Mina Jack Tolu, Sandra Gauci and Brian Decelis