CAIRO, Aug 12 (Aswat Masriya) - Twenty-one senior citizens died on Tuesday, the ministry of health said on Wednesday, in light of a heat wave which hit Egypt, leaving 61 senior citizens dead this week.

The high temperature caused 581 other citizens to experience heat-related stress, the ministry said in a statement. All of them were hospitalised; 377 were later dismissed from hospital after their health improved.

Cairo was home to the largest death toll, where ten of its senior citizens died on Tuesday.

This comes after the elevated heat killed 21 senior citizens on Sunday, and 19 more on Monday.

Egypt has been hit by brutal heat this summer, especially in the past few weeks. 

The Health Ministry reiterated its warning to senior citizens and people with chronic diseases, calling on them to avoid direct exposure to sunlight, particularly at noon and to take protective measures.