The Regional Department reported, in a press release, 4 out-of-hospital deaths and 17 in-hospital fatalities, noting that the majority of those who lost their lives suffered from chronic illnesses, or were elderly.

Rising temperatures led to a deterioration in the victims' state of health, resulting in their deaths, the press release added.

The Regional Department of Health and Social Protection had opened an investigation following reports of sudden deaths in the emergency department of the Beni-Mellal Regional Hospital due to rising temperatures, according to the same source.