Protesters burn tires to block roads during a demonstration demanding the return of electricity in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, July 2, 2021. (AP/Nabil al-Jurani)
Amid a record heatwave, water and power shortages have sparked protests and unrest across the Middle East, from Iran to Lebanon.
Temperatures in a number of countries have topped 50 degrees Celsius (122°F), including Iran, which hit 51°C (123.8°F), and Iraq, which reached 52°C (125.6°F) this month.
In Lebanon, a major power station was to resume operations on Sunday, two days after it ground to a halt due to a lack of fuel at a time of constant power cuts and economic collapse.
Iraqis protest power outage amid 50+ degrees Celsius heat wionews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wionews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Baghdad: When the mercury soared to 52 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) this week in Iraq, Ali Karrar placed his baby for a couple of minutes in the fridge.
But when the power went off on Thursday night across oil-rich Iraq, people were left at a loss as to how to escape the torrid heat.
Those with the means hooked up fridges, air conditioning units and fans to private generators - but not Karrar, who lives in the town of Al-Hillah, as well as others across the impoverished and rural south.
Four southern provinces have been without electricity since Tuesday, including Basra - home to Iraq s main port.
Iraq sizzles as blackouts hit
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Iraq sizzles as blackouts hit
AFP / Jul 7, 2021, 08:30 IST
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Baghdad: People escape the searing summer heat at Baghdad Aquatic Center in Baghdad, Iraq.
BAGHDAD: When the mercury soared to 52 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) this week in Iraq, Ali Karrar placed his baby for a couple of minutes in the fridge.
But when the power went off on Thursday night across oil-rich Iraq, people were left at a loss as to how to escape the torrid heat.
Those with the means hooked up fridges, air conditioning units and fans to private generators but not Karrar, who lives in the town of Al-Hillah, as well as others across the impoverished and rural south.
Iraq sizzles as blackouts hit four southern provinces omanobserver.om - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from omanobserver.om Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.