Iraq faces major power outage

Power was out on Monday across Iraq as scorching summer temperatures pushed demand on the electricity grid to unprecedented levels, authorities said.

The electricity ministry said the grid suffered a "total outage" as heat reached 48-50C in Baghdad and central and southern regions.

It said two transmission lines were shut down "due to a record rise in temperatures, increased consumer demand, and increased electrical load in the provinces of Babylon and Karbala, which are experiencing an influx of millions of pilgrims" for Arbaeen.

The transmission lines shutting down caused "a sudden and accidental loss of more than 6,000 megawatts on the grid", the ministry added, with power plants also halting operations.

The outage comes amid a heatwave that Iraqi meteorological services expect to last more than a week.

"Our teams are currently mobilised on the ground to gradually restore the grid over the next few hours," the electricity ministry said