Egypt heat wave death toll rises to 106

The death toll from Egypt's heatwave has risen to 106 as temperatures this week soared to 46C.

Egyptian families enjoy the sea in Marsa Matruh, some 500 km north of Cairo, Egypt, 16 August 2015.(EPA/KHALED ELFIQI) Source: EPA

A scorching heat wave in Egypt has killed 106 people since last week.

The country's state-run news agency reported on Tuesday that eight more people had died a day earlier, mostly elderly citizens, according to the Health Ministry.

The Mideast has been hit by a heat wave since late July.

Egyptian summers are usually hot, but temperatures this week soared to 46C in the country's south.

Temperatures started to decline in the north of the country on Monday, but are expected to remain high in the south over the next few days.

Those who died include eight patients at a psychiatric hospital north of Cairo and three detainees in a jail, according to officials.