“A low-pressure heat wave heading toward Iraq and the Kurdistan Region has caused temperatures to rise significantly with clear impacts,” Amer al-Jabri, spokesperson for Iraq’s meteorology and seismology directorate, told Rudaw.
He said that temperatures in the provinces of Basra, Dhi Qar, and Maysan are expected to hit 52 degrees Celsius on Sunday, and precautionary measures have been taken in several institutions and entities in the area. Oil companies have reduced reduction to decrease risks.
“Temperatures will drop slightly on Tuesday and Wednesday,” Jabri noted.
Iraqi authorities frequently instruct citizens to refrain from going outdoors and being exposed to direct sunlight during periods of intense heat.
Scorching temperatures are not new in Iraq, particularly in the south where temperatures regularly approach 50 degrees Celsius. A lack of basic services, such as water and electricity, makes it more difficult for people to cope with the heat.
Iraq is also facing a severe water shortage because of reduced precipitation, higher temperatures, and waste mismanagement. It ranks as the fifth most vulnerable country in the world to the effects of climate change, according to the United Nations.
Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.
