Baghdad, Aug 10 (IANS): Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has ordered all government employees to take Thursday off because of exceptionally high temperatures, the media reported.
Forecasters expect air temperatures in the capital, Baghdad, to reach 50 degrees Celsius on Thursday afternoon, reports the BBC.
Heat wave conditions are also expected in the cities of Basra and Mosul.
The extreme heat can cause chronic power shortages, depriving homes and businesses of electricity and air conditioning for parts of the day, according to weather officials.