There is a nationwide power outage in Iraq on Monday. The reason is the record-high temperatures in the country that have put a lot of pressure on the power grid.
The increased electricity consumption of the population is also affected by millions of visiting pilgrims, on site for a Shia Muslim holiday.
"Our technicians are now on site to gradually restore the power grid in the coming hours", writes Iraq's responsible authority in a statement.
In the central and southern parts of the country, as well as in the capital Baghdad, the heat has reached up to as much as between 48 and 50 degrees. The heat wave is expected to continue for more than a week ahead.
Power shortages are common in Iraq, not least during the hot summer months.
