Iraq shuts down government offices as heat wave pushes temperatures past 52°C

Dubai: The Iraqi government on Sunday declared an official holiday in seven southern provinces as a searing heat wave continued to grip the country, with temperatures climbing above 52 degrees Celsius in parts of the country, particularly in the capital, Baghdad.

The order affects Basra, Dhi Qar, Maysan, Karbala, Diwaniyah, Babil and Wasit provinces, and was issued “to ensure the safety of citizens and public sector employees,” the government said in a statement. The closure, which took effect immediately, does not apply to essential services including healthcare, electricity and municipal work, which are expected to remain operational to guarantee basic needs.

Sunday’s action came a day after Iraq’s Meteorological Authority forecasted that the mercury would climb to 52°C in several governorates, warning of an intense heat wave expected to last through Tuesday. Amir Al Jabri, a spokesman for the authority, rejected widely circulating claims that temperatures could rise as high as 65°C, calling such figures “incorrect, exaggerated and unsupported by precise scientific data.” He added that the dome of hot air smothering much of Iraq would begin to retreat on Tuesday, likely bringing some relief. Until then, he urged people to stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day, to avoid direct sun exposure and to take basic precautions to prevent heat-related illness.

Meteorologists have described the current heat wave as one of the harshest of the year. Iraq routinely sees extreme summer temperatures. While the suspension of work applied mainly to government employees, private businesses across southern Iraq slowed to a crawl on Sunday as shopkeepers shuttered their doors during the peak hours of the day. Officials warned that continued exposure to such extreme conditions without adequate protection could have severe health consequences, especially for children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.