Iraq: As temperatures soar, Baghdad residents cool off under public shower

Iraqi authorities attempted to alleviate the soaring heat in Baghdad by installing public showers to cool off passersby, Saturday. Iraq and much of West Asia is suffering from a heatwave, with temperatures breaking 50C (122F) in Baghdad on Thursday and hitting 48C (119F) on Saturday. The heatwave has been compounded by power shortages, which have brought Iraqis out onto the streets to protest against a perceived lack of government investment in infrastructure. The country’s power grid was severely damaged during the US and coalition invasion of 2003. It has not recovered, with some rural areas of the country only receiving a few hours of electricity a day.