29-07-2025
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.
