Iran has declared Wednesday and Thursday of this week as public holidays due to the extreme heat, urging the elderly and individuals with health conditions to remain indoors, according to Iranian state media.
A number of cities in southern Iran have already experienced several days of unprecedented heat. The state media has reported that temperatures in the southern city of Ahvaz have exceeded 123 degrees Fahrenheit (51 Celsius) this week.
State media quoted government spokesman Ali Bahadori-Jahromi as saying that Wednesday and Thursday would be designated as holidays, while the health ministry announced that hospitals would be placed on high alert.
In Tehran, temperatures are expected to reach 39 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
Heatwaves have impacted various regions worldwide in the past few weeks. Scientists have attributed these heatwaves to climate change caused by human activities.
(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
