Latest news with #Basra
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Iraqis battle extreme heatwave with ice, mist and river dips
STORY: :: July 28, 2025 :: Iraqis seek relief in rivers and misting fans as an extreme heatwave grips the country :: Baghdad, Iraq :: The government declared a public holiday in several provinces in response :: Najaf, Iraq :: Basra, Iraq In Baghdad, residents jumped into the Tigris River to cool off while others gathered near roadside fans spraying water or bought cooled bottled water from vendors. 'There is a rise in the temperature, it's currently over than 50 degrees, it's hitting 52 degrees during this recent period,' said Mohammed Sadeq, a resident of Baghdad. 'What can one do? You head back home, there's no electricity, and it's so hot - it feels like you're burning. One goes out to work, you have to, we have families and responsibilities.' The United Nations puts Iraq among the most vulnerable countries to climate change globally, citing water scarcity, drought, and extreme temperatures.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Blazing heat in Iraq as temperatures in Baghdad, south top 50°C
Summer temperatures often climb to 52°C in Iraq, especially in July and August. (EPA Images pic) BAGHDAD : Iraqis grappled today with searing heat in the capital Baghdad and parts of the country's south, where the weather service said temperatures reached 51°C in the shade. Iraq's 46 million people face rising temperatures, chronic water shortages and year-on-year droughts, in a country intensely impacted by the effects of climate change. Summer temperatures often climb to 52°C, especially in July and August. On central Baghdad's bustling streets today, people sought respite from the sweltering heat in front of swirling mist fans set up near restaurants and shops. Some pedestrians drenched their faces with cold water purchased from sidewalk vendors, while drivers had to pull over to the roadside to cool down their engines. The national weather service said the temperature reached 51°C in Baghdad and in areas to the capital's southeast, from the central Wasit province to Dhi Qar, Missan and Basra in the south. Another eight provinces hit 50°C today, with temperatures expected to drop slightly on Wednesday, according to the official Iraq News Agency. In recent years, Iraqis rallied every summer to protest regular power cuts and water shortages that plague their daily lives. Hundreds of people protested on Friday and yesterday near the cities of Hilla and Diwaniyah, south of Baghdad, blocking roads and burning tyres. Iraq's water resources ministry has said that 'this year is one of the driest since 1933', and that water reserve are down to only 8% of their full capacity. Authorities blame reduced river flows in part on upstream dams built in neighbouring Iran and Turkey, which Iraq says have dramatically shrunk the once-mighty Tigris and Euphrates whose waters have been crucial for irrigation for millennia. Temperatures have risen significantly elsewhere in the region, with neighbouring Turkey registering on Saturday 50.5°C in its southeast, a nationwide record. Last week, a severe heatwave in Iran disrupted water and electricity supplies in much of the country.
Jordan Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Jordan Times
Blazing heat in Iraq as Baghdad, south top 50C
BAGHDAD — Iraqis grappled on Monday with searing heat in the capital Baghdad and parts of the country's south, where the weather service said temperatures reached 51C in the shade. Iraq's 46 million people face rising temperatures, chronic water shortages and year-on-year droughts, in a country intensely impacted by the effects of climate change. Summer temperatures often climb to 52C, especially in July and August. On central Baghdad's bustling streets on Monday, people sought respite from the sweltering heat in front of swirling mist fans set up near restaurants and shops. Some pedestrians drenched their faces with cold water purchased from sidewalk vendors, while drivers had to pull over to the roadside to cool down their engines. The national weather service said the temperature reached 51C in Baghdad and in areas to the capital's southeast, from the central Wasit province to Dhi Qar, Missan and Basra in the south. Another eight provinces hit 50C on Monday, with temperatures expected to drop slightly on Wednesday, according to the official Iraq News Agency. In recent years, Iraqis rallied every summer to protest regular power cuts and water shortages that plague their daily lives. Hundreds of people protested on Friday and Sunday near the cities of Hilla and Diwaniyah, south of Baghdad, blocking roads and burning tires. Iraq's water resources ministry has said that "this year is one of the driest since 1933", and that water reserve are down to only eight percent of their full capacity. Authorities blame reduced river flows in part on upstream dams built in neighbouring Iran and Turkey, which Iraq says have dramatically shrunk the once-mighty Tigris and Euphrates whose waters have been crucial for irrigation for millennia. Temperatures have risen significantly elsewhere in the region, with neighbouring Turkey registering on Saturday 50.5C in its southeast, a nationwide record. Last week, a severe heatwave in Iran disrupted water and electricity supplies in much of the country.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Iraq grapples 51C temperatures, historic drought, power shortages
Iraqis grappled on Monday with searing heat in the capital Baghdad and parts of the country's south, where the weather service said temperatures reached 51C in the shade. Iraq's 46 million people face rising temperatures, chronic water shortages and year-on-year droughts, in a country intensely impacted by the effects of climate change. Summer temperatures often climb to 52C, especially in July and August. On central Baghdad's bustling streets on Monday, people sought respite from the sweltering heat in front of swirling mist fans set up near restaurants and shops. Some pedestrians drenched their faces with cold water purchased from sidewalk vendors, while drivers had to pull over to the roadside to cool down their engines. The national weather service said the temperature reached 51C in Baghdad and in areas to the capital's southeast, from the central Wasit province to Dhi Qar, Missan and Basra in the south. Another eight provinces hit 50C on Monday, with temperatures expected to drop slightly on Wednesday, according to the official Iraq News Agency. In recent years, Iraqis rallied every summer to protest regular power cuts and water shortages that plague their daily lives. Hundreds of people protested on Friday and Sunday near the cities of Hilla and Diwaniyah, south of Baghdad, blocking roads and burning tires. Iraq's water resources ministry has said that 'this year is one of the driest since 1933', and that water reserve are down to only eight percent of their full capacity. Authorities blame reduced river flows in part on upstream dams built in neighboring Iran and Turkey, which Iraq says have dramatically shrunk the once-mighty Tigris and Euphrates whose waters have been crucial for irrigation for millennia. Temperatures have risen significantly elsewhere in the region, with neighboring Turkey registering on Saturday 50.5C in its southeast, a nationwide record. Last week, a severe heatwave in Iran disrupted water and electricity supplies in much of the country.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Blazing heat in Iraq as Baghdad, south top 50C
BAGHDAD: Iraqis grappled on Monday with searing heat in the capital Baghdad and parts of the country's south, where the weather service said temperatures reached 51C in the shade. Iraq's 46 million people face rising temperatures, chronic water shortages and year-on-year droughts, in a country intensely impacted by the effects of climate change. Summer temperatures often climb to 52C, especially in July and August. On central Baghdad's bustling streets on Monday, people sought respite from the sweltering heat in front of swirling mist fans set up near restaurants and shops. Some pedestrians drenched their faces with cold water purchased from sidewalk vendors, while drivers had to pull over to the roadside to cool down their engines. The national weather service said the temperature reached 51C in Baghdad and in areas to the capital's southeast, from the central Wasit province to Dhi Qar, Missan and Basra in the south. Another eight provinces hit 50C on Monday, with temperatures expected to drop slightly on Wednesday, according to the official Iraq News Agency. In recent years, Iraqis rallied every summer to protest regular power cuts and water shortages that plague their daily lives. Hundreds of people protested on Friday and Sunday near the cities of Hilla and Diwaniyah, south of Baghdad, blocking roads and burning tires. Iraq's water resources ministry has said that 'this year is one of the driest since 1933,' and that water reserve are down to only eight percent of their full capacity. Authorities blame reduced river flows in part on upstream dams built in neighboring Iran and Turkiye, which Iraq says have dramatically shrunk the once-mighty Tigris and Euphrates whose waters have been crucial for irrigation for millennia. Temperatures have risen significantly elsewhere in the region, with neighboring Turkiye registering on Saturday 50.5C in its southeast, a nationwide record. Last week, a severe heatwave in Iran disrupted water and electricity supplies in much of the country.
