Baghdad, Aug 1 (IANS) The Iraqi government declared Monday as a holiday in central and southern parts of the country after temperatures crossed 50 degrees Celsius, Xinhua reported.
‘The Iraqi Council of Ministers declared a holiday Monday for public sector workers in the central and southern areas of the country, including Baghdad, because of high temperatures,’ the government said.
The meteorological office warned that temperatures may rise further in the coming two days.
Salam Sulaiman, head of the Iraqi Meteorological Office, Monday told reporters that the increase in temperatures in central and southern Iraq ‘is expected to continue until Thursday, as the temperature is expected to reach about 51 degrees Celsius’.
The high temperature holds significance as this happens to be the holy month of Ramadan when a large number of Muslims observe fast.
