Heatwave hits water, electricity supplies across much of Iran
by AFP Staff Writers
Tehran (AFP) July 22, 2025

A severe heatwave sweeping Iran has disrupted water and electricity supplies in much of the country, with reservoir levels dropping to their lowest point in a century, state media said Tuesday.

At least 18 of the country's 31 provinces -- including Tehran -- have been affected by the extreme temperatures, which began on Friday and expected to ease gradually by Thursday, according to meteorological authorities cited by state television.

Government offices in at least 10 provinces, including the capital, have been ordered to close on Wednesday in a bid to conserve water and electricity, as temperatures in parts of southern and southwestern Iran soared above 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).

At least 10 provincial capitals recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius on Monday, including Tehran, which reached 40 degrees Celsius for the first time this year, the meteorological agency said.

The heatwave comes amid a sharp drop in rainfall -- the worst in 60 years in the capital, according to Tehran's Provincial Water Supply Company.

The drought has seen the water levels of dams supplying Tehran drop to "their lowest level in a century", the company said, advising people to use a tank and pump to cope with ongoing water disruptions.

Many residents across Tehran reported water outages lasting several hours in the past few days.

"The water crisis is more serious than what is being talked about," President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on Sunday, adding that the country would "face a situation in the future for which no solution can be found" if current trends continue.

"Measures such as transferring water from other places to Tehran will not solve the problem fundamentally," he said.

Greece brings in emergency heatwave measures for workers
Athens (AFP) July 22, 2025 - Greece introduced emergency measures on Tuesday to help workers cope with temperatures of up to 43C in a heatwave due to last all week.

Cities opened up air-conditioned public rooms and the labour ministry ordered a pause in outdoor work from 12:00 to 5:00 pm (0900 to 1400 GMT) in most of the country, including Athens.

National weather service EMY has said the heatwave that began on Monday is not expected to ease before Sunday.

Temperatures in the capital and Thessaloniki are forecast to reach 40C on Tuesday, with highs up to 43C in central Greece.

The heatwave is expected to peak in Athens on Thursday with temperatures of up to 41C, the agency said.

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