Iraqi government declares mandatory 4-day public holiday because of severe heatwave

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s Council of Ministers has declared a four-day mandatory holiday beginning Thursday as temperatures are set to soar above 50 degrees Celsius (123 degrees Fahrenheit).

The statement, delivered on state-run Iraqiyya TV, is the second heat advisory issued by the Iraqi government this month.

High summer temperatures are standard in Iraq, but widespread power and water cuts complicate everyday life when the temperatures soar.

Residents are typically advised to limit any outdoor activities for the duration of the heat wave.

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