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Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Iran's triple crisis is reshaping daily life
Tehran, Iran – Every morning at 6am, Sara reaches for her phone – not to check messages, but to see when the day's blackout will begin. The 44-year-old digital marketer in Tehran has memorised the weekly electricity schedule yet still checks her phone each morning for last-minute changes as she plans her life around the two-hour power cuts. 'Without electricity, there is no air conditioner to make the heat tolerable,' Sara says, describing how Iran's convergent crises – water scarcity, power shortages and record-breaking temperatures – have fundamentally altered her daily routine. The water service cuts are unannounced. They last hours at a time and truly unnerve Sara, so she scrambles to fill buckets whenever she can before the taps run dry. Crisis For millions of Iranians, this summer has brought survival challenges in light of record-breaking heat, according to data from Iran's Meteorological Organization. The country is simultaneously grappling with its fifth consecutive year of drought, chronic energy deficits and unprecedented heat, a perfect storm that is exposing the fragility of basic services. The Meteorological Organization said rainfall is down 40 percent during the current water year, the 12-month rainfall-tracking period, which starts in autumn. As of July 28, Iran had received only 137mm (5.4 inches) of precipitation compared with the long-term average of 228.2mm (9 inches).The electricity shortage is rooted in both infrastructure limitations and fuel supply challenges that have caused production capacity to fall behind rapidly rising demand. An October report from parliament's Research Center showed 85 percent of Iran's electricity comes from fossil fuels, 13 percent from hydropower and the remainder from renewables and nuclear power. While Iran possesses vast gas and oil reserves, decades of sanctions and underinvestment in transmission networks and power plants mean the system can't keep up with consumption. Adding to these capacity constraints, fuel supply disruptions have forced some power stations to resort sometimes to using mazut (heavy fuel oil) instead of natural gas, but authorities try to restrict it due to air pollution concerns. Summer droughts compound the crisis by reducing hydroelectric generation precisely when air conditioning demand peaks, leaving millions of Iranians planning their lives around predictable blackouts and unpredictable water outages. Survival Twenty-six-year-old Fatemeh moved to Tehran from Andisheh, a town 15km (9 miles) west of the capital, a year ago to pursue her education. She rented her first apartment, an exciting milestone that became a daily exercise in crisis management. Fatemeh's first unannounced water cut saw her in a sweltering apartment with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). 'The first thing I did was to stop moving altogether so my body temperature wouldn't rise,' she recalls. With only two bottles of drinking water and a block of ice available, she carefully rationed her supplies although she used precious ice to cool her feet. Showering and using the bathroom became challenges, she says, describing how she ordered expensive bottled water online and used two bottles just to shower. Now, after months of unpredictable outages, Fatemeh has a survival routine: storing water in multiple containers, pouring it into her evaporative cooler when cuts occur and tossing blocks of ice into vents during extreme heat. When both the water and electricity go, she says it 'feels like having a fever' and she soaks towels in her stored water to press them against her body for relief. The balcony offers no escape. The air outside remains hotter than indoors, even at night. Ripple effect The infrastructure crisis extends beyond household inconveniences and is threatening livelihoods across the economy as offices and retail shops are forced to close for hours or for the day. The repeated shutdowns and the economic pinch they cause could lead to layoffs, affecting families who depend on these jobs. Small businesses face particular challenges. Pastry shop owners have shared videos of themselves throwing spoiled cakes away after refrigerators fail. Remote work, promoted as a solution, becomes impossible when homes lack both electricity and internet connectivity. Shahram, a 38-year-old software company manager, says he has to send his employees home sometimes. 'Power cuts usually occur between 12 and 5pm,' he says. 'That coincides with peak work hours, … [so] if the power cuts happen at 2, 3 or 4pm, I usually send everyone home because there's no point. By the time power comes back, it is the end of their working day.' Experts attribute the energy crisis to insufficient investment, failure to adopt new technologies – both of which are influenced by international sanctions – and unsustainable consumption. Mohammad Arshadi, a water governance researcher and member of the Strategic Council of the Tadbir-E-Abe Iran think tank, agrees, saying Iran's water crisis requires fundamental changes in consumption patterns. While natural scarcity has been amplified by climate change, he says the main reason behind the current problem is how water is being used in Iran. Expansion of water-intensive farming, large industries and urban sprawl have 'fuelled the runaway growth of water demand', he says. Uncertainty Back in her apartment, Sara continues checking her phone each morning, adjusting her schedule like millions of Iranians who have learned to navigate this new reality. For Fatemeh, the psychological adjustment proves as challenging as the practical adaptations. Each morning brings new uncertainty about whether water will flow from her taps or electricity will power her laptop. In a country where citizens once took infrastructure for granted, a generation is learning to live with scarcity. As Iran approaches another winter with unresolved water and energy deficits, the experiences of Sara, Fatemeh, Shahram and millions like them suggest that the country's infrastructure crisis has moved beyond temporary inconvenience to become a defining feature of modern Iranian life. This story was published in collaboration with @. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
N.L. declares regional state of emergency as more communities evacuate
Premier John Hogan announced Saturday the government of Newfoundland and Labrador is declaring a regional state of emergency for Bay de Verde Peninsula, North of Bristol's Hope and Whiteway. "A state of emergency allows our government another tool in our toolbox to help continue our best efforts to keep the community safe," said Hogan. Hogan also announced that the province has received word a fire has started near Gull Island, in Labrador. The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture later posted on social media that information was incorrect. The fire was instead located at the Grand Lake forest access road system north of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Despite the state of emergency, Hogan clarified that only communities under evacuation orders are required to evacuate at this time, but other communities are encouraged to prepare to evacuate. He also advised communities to stay tuned and to follow trusted sources of information for updates. There is a population of about 14,000 people in the state of emergency area. WATCH | State of emergency to give government more tools to keep communities safe: Saturday afternoon, the province ordered Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay to evacuate in addition to the six other communities already evacuated. Small Point–Adam's Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove, Western Bay, Salmon Cove, Kingston, Perry's Cove, Ochre Pit Cove and Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay all remain under an evacuation order. The Town of Victoria remains under an evacuation alert. Evacuees from Burnt Point-Gull Island-Northern Bay have been asked to travel north on Route 70 to Carbonear, where they are required to register with the Canadian Red Cross at Carbonear Academy. Alternatively, residents can register by calling 709-729-0921. Extreme weather conditions, Saturday These updates come as St. John's experienced its second warmest August day on record, according to a social media post by Environment Canada meteorologist Rodney Barney. Weather conditions are coupled with winds conducive to extreme wildfire behaviour in Conception Bay North. Ground crews that were working on the Kingston Fire have now been removed due to safety concerns, said Hogan. "I want to ensure Newfoundlanders and Laboradorians, especially those on the Bay de Verde Peninsula, that all hands are on deck," said Hogan. Hogan added that two more water bombers and a bird dog plane will also be coming from Ontario on Sunday to assist fire suppression. That is in addition to Two water bombers and a Bird Dog aircraft from Quebec were expected to arrive at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, said N.L. fire duty officer Mark Lawlor said Saturday. New Brunswick also sent water bombers earlier in the week. The province also said that 20 firefighters from Ontario are also arriving over the weekend. Hogan said out-of-province supports have more than doubled fire suppression efforts. "It also helps to provide a breather for the hard working crew and the volunteers who have been working intensely over the last week," he said. Open fires still reported Fires are also still being set in the province despite a fire ban, according to the premier. He is aware that there is at least one investigation into a potential fine being issues under the stricter fines that were implemented this week. Fines were increased to $50,000 for a first offence on Friday. Subsequent offences are now $75,000 to $150,000 and defaulting on a payment could see up to a year in a jail. He said fires being set is distressing. "I don't know how many times they said it this week…please, please do not start fires or do anything that can lead to fires," said Hogan. "I'm frustrated. I'm annoyed, I'm sad," said Hogan. " I see the volunteers. I mean, they're just pouring their heart and soul into this. … People need to understand that these fines are serious and that the penalties are serious." At least 9 homes destroyed The Town of Small Point–Adam's Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove confirmed Saturday that the fire in Conception Bay North has grown to 3,001 hectares in size. The town's mayor, Curtis Delaney, confirmed Saturday morning that nine homes have been destroyed by the fire. Delaney says property owners have been notified and couldn't confirm which communities saw property damage. The town says personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces and Ground Search and Rescue are arriving Saturday. Lawlor said Saturday morning that fire crews worked the fire's southern end and around the communities and started building a fire guard throughout the day Friday Good news for Holyrood All evacuation orders issued for Holyrood and Conception Bay South have now been lifted, said the Province in a 4:15 p.m. news release on Saturday. Conception Bay Highway, or Route 60, is now open as well. But residents are still being advised that the fire is still active and that fire crews remain on scene to work on hotspots. The province also wants residents returning to their properties to proceed with caution. If needed, they can seek guidance from town officials and first responders. The province is also alerting residents that their well water may be impacted if the fire occurred close to their property. Free well testing is available through the Department of Environment and Climate Change. The province says there was good progress made toward suppressing the Holyrood fire on Friday. On Saturday morning, Conception Bay South Mayor Darrin Bent said the Holyrood fire remains approximately 22 hectares. He said that there was no open flame on Friday. Lawlor said that fire is now just hotspots and ground crews and a helicopter continue to work on it. A hose line is in place around the entire fire perimeter and staff continuing to dig out and wet hotspots," Hogan said. Crime Stoppers offering reward for info on fires Earlier in the day, Crime Stoppers announced it would be offering a $5,000 award to anyone who offers information that leads to the identification and arrest of anyone responsible for starting fires in Newfoundland and Labrador. At Saturday's update, Hogan said he hopes offering this award, along with the ability to provide information anonymously, will lead to a charge or conviction of anyone responsible for starting fires. "It's very clear that this is an extraordinary circumstance that the province is facing," he said. Across the province, there are about 3,000 individuals and 1,500 households under evacuation orders, said Hogan at a 2:00 p.m. public update. Hogan says the government is working to do what they can to support individuals impacted by the fires. Justice and Public Safety Minister John Haggie also announced that households that have evacuated their primary residences will also receive a $500 payment. The government will be working with the Red Cross to determine a way to distribute these funds, and more details will be available in the coming days, says Haggie. Haggie added the government is consulting with insurance companies and will be developing new policy in the coming days for future fires. Central N.L. fire holds The Martin Lake fire also still burns near the Bay D'Espoir highway, and cabins in the area remain evacuated. That fire increased slightly to about 245 hectares in size, with some growth on the North and South edges, said Hogan. However, fire crews have continued to hold the line, said Hogan at the 6:00 p.m. update on Saturday. Lawlor says an air tanker, helicopter and three planes from New Brunswick, plus ground crews, worked the fire Friday. While there are a lot of hot spots, he says there was minimal growth on Friday. Hogan said there is a fuel break being constructed as well, and that weather conditions will create challenging fire behaviour throughout the day Saturday. Crews also started a fire guard that made good progress, said Lawlor. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Firefighters continue to tackle blazes in Newfoundland
ST. JOHN'S — One of Newfoundland's active wildfires gained considerable ground over the weekend, and the blaze has "impacted" additional structures in the Adam's Cove, Kingston and Western Bay areas, the premier said Sunday. John Hogan said Saturday was a "difficult day" as hot and windy conditions fanned the flames of the largest of the two fires in the Avalon Peninsula. "Homes and structures were impacted... Unfortunately, we can't, based on suppression efforts and the smoke, evaluate exactly which structures have been lost at this time," the premier said during a news briefing Sunday. Late Friday, that wildfire was reported to have destroyed nine homes in the small town of Small Point-Adam's Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove. Hogan said the fire that was 30 square kilometres Saturday morning had reached 50 square kilometres by Sunday afternoon. The premier said the blaze is expected to move toward Ochre Pit Cove by Sunday evening. The premier, who spent much of the weekend in the town of Carbonear, N.L., with residents who have fled their homes, said "our hearts are with each and every one of you." There are four air tankers attacking the northern side of the fire, the premier said, which are all the water bombers Newfoundland and Labrador has in its fleet. There is also one Bird Dog aircraft, five helicopters — two of which are from the Coast Guard — and 50 groundcrew working on fighting the blaze. Hogan said the piece of good news he could deliver Sunday was that the wildfire in the Holyrood, N.L., area is now considered "held" at about 0.22 square kilometres. The evacuation order for this area has been lifted. "The fire is fully contained with hose lines... crews are still working on the fire with support from local fire departments with water supplies," Hogan said. Meanwhile, the fire near Martin Lake and Great Rattling Brook has hit about 2.55 square kilometres in size Sunday. Hogan said two waterbombers from Quebec, one Bird Dog aircraft and three air-tractors from New Brunswick are being used to support the firefighting crews. Forestry Minister Lisa Dempster said through this "devastating" time she is seeing the goodness in humanity "that always rises to the surface in the most challenging of times" among residents. However, she has also seen "some terrible, misleading, unfactual (social) media posts and comments that do nothing to help those people on the entire Bay de Verde Peninsula that are in a state of emergency — many that, through little cameras on their doors, watched their homes being burned." The minister said she's had a number of people reach out to her saying they heard they are no longer permitted to walk in the woods. She found out this rumour originated on social media. "Those people who are sharing information that they don't know whether it's true or not is not helping," she said. Dempster noted that the province has not banned hiking, walking the woods or using ATVs. "What we have banned is open-pit fires, fires that cause more fires. Fires that drain resources and quite frankly that are very careless and reckless right now in this devastating time in our province," she said. Meanwhile, in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, provincial governments have implemented burn bans and restricted activity in the woods as wildfire prevention measures. Nova Scotia has imposed a sweeping ban on activities in wooded areas in addition to its existing burn bans. In New Brunswick, where the provincial government had also earlier imposed restrictions on some forestry operations, Premier Susan Holt announced a sweeping ban Saturday covering all activities on Crown lands, although she didn't announce any potential increase in fines. 'We are in an unprecedented situation and it is getting worse,' Holt told reporters in Fredericton Saturday. 'We are here to ask all New Brunswickers to get out of the woods and to stay out of the woods.' Minister of Natural Resources John Herron said of the seven active wildfires burning in the province Saturday, only one was currently out of control. The fire on Oldfield Road in the Bartibog area northeast of Miramichi, had rapidly grown to about 2.4 square kilometres in size and had closed a section of Route 8, he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 10, 2025. — By Lyndsay Armstrong in Halifax. The Canadian Press
