Power Outages Hit Iraq Amid Scorching Temperatures
A worker for a private electricity generating company transfers electricity to private homes in Basra, Iraq., June 29.
Photographer: Nabil al-Jurani/APThis article is for subscribers only.
Baghdad (AP) -- A widespread power outage hit Iraq on Friday as temperatures reached scorching levels, affecting millions of Iraqis, including those in affluent areas in the capital of Baghdad and stirring concerns of widespread unrest.
Iraq's grid was generating just over 4,000 megawatts, according to Ministry of Electricity data on Friday morning — significantly less than the 12,000-17,000 megawatts the grid generates on average. By midday, production had climbed to 8,000 MW.