Scorching Iraq: Al-Husseiniya River offers escape from extreme heat
Shafaq News/ When the midday sun pushes the mercury close to 50 degrees Celsius, the Al-Husseiniya River in Karbala becomes a quiet refuge for those trapped by relentless heat.
On the river's soft, muddy bank, or perched on its low bridge where worn shoes and shirts rest on scattered stones, Hassan Alwan stands still. A young man in his twenties with a physical disability, he gazes at the water sparkling under the harsh sun.
Slowly, he sets aside his crutches. For a moment, he hesitates, eyes fixed on the inviting river. Then, with a long, steady breath—as if drawing the last coolness from the air—he dives in.
Scenes like this have become common in recent years. Each summer, as Iraq swelters under blistering heat, rivers and streams transform into havens. Young men finishing long days of construction work, children chasing joy, and people like Hassan find relief where air conditioners fail and electricity disappears.
'I have nothing but this river,' Hassan admits, soaked as he pulls himself onto the bank after a deep swim. 'My room feels like an oven. Only here do I feel alive.'
Karbala, like much of central and southern Iraq, simmers beneath a merciless sun. But it is the endless power cuts and lack of chilled water services that turn this heat into a daily struggle for thousands.
By the riverbank, no one asks where you come from or who you are. Thin men swim alongside laughing children, some clutching old rubber tires turned into makeshift floats.
Yet the image that stays with you is Hassan, stepping into the water without his crutches. 'I know this isn't always safe,' he says with a quiet smile as he dries his hair. 'But the heat is worse.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Iraqi News
4 hours ago
- Iraqi News
Beijing issues weather warning for hottest days of year
Beijing – Beijing residents sought shade and cooled off in canals on Monday as authorities issued the second-highest heat warning for the Chinese capital on one of its hottest days of the year so far. China has endured a string of extreme summers in recent years, with heatwaves baking northern regions even as parts of the south have seen catastrophic rain and flooding. Authorities in the city of 22 million people urged the public to take precautions, with temperatures expected to peak at around 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday. 'It's been really hot lately, especially in the past few days,' intern Li Weijun told AFP on Monday afternoon. The 22-year-old said he had stopped wearing formal clothes to work and delayed his daily exercise until after 10:00 pm to stay safe. 'I think it's related to climate change, and maybe also to the damage done to nature,' he said. An orange heat warning — the second-highest in a three-tier system — was issued on Monday as officials encouraged people to limit outdoor activity and drink more fluids to avoid heatstroke. Construction workers should 'shorten the amount of time consecutively spent at labour', while elderly, sick or weakened individuals ought to 'avoid excessive exertion', according to the guidelines. Zhang Chen, 28, said she carried an umbrella outdoors to prevent sunburn. 'I used to ride a bike, but once it gets this hot, I basically stop doing that,' the IT worker told AFP. Despite the beating sun, legions of delivery drivers zipped through downtown areas at noon to bring sustenance to Beijing's office workers. A few lazed on the backs of their scooters in a shady spot, while elsewhere, people cooled off with ice creams or by taking a dip in the city's canals. – Climate giant – Beijing is still a few degrees short of breaking its record for the hottest-ever June day, set at 41.1C in 2023. Human greenhouse gas emissions are driving climate change that causes longer, more frequent and more intense heatwaves. China is the world's largest producer of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas, though it has pledged to bring its emissions to a peak by the end of this decade and to net zero by 2060. The country has also emerged as a global leader in renewable energy in recent years as it seeks to pivot its massive economy away from highly polluting coal consumption. In a shady spot near an office building, 42-year-old Lucy Lu spent her lunch break with friends, kicking a shuttlecock through the air — a traditional Chinese game known as 'jianzi'. 'I was born and raised in Beijing, and summer here has always been like this,' she said. 'But I do think when the temperature goes over 40C, there should be some time off or work-from-home options to reduce the risk of heatstroke.'
Iraqi News
a day ago
- Iraqi News
Dortmund stars hide from sun at Club World Cup ‘sauna'
Cincinnati – Borussia Dortmund substitutes cowered from the sun in the team's Club World Cup win over Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, in conditions coach Niko Kovac described as like 'a sauna'. The German side won 4-3 in Cincinnati at the TQL Stadium under a blazing sun, with the team's reserves watching the first half from the dressing room and the second under umbrellas on the bench. 'I'm sweating like I've just come out of a sauna,' said Kovac, who had already complained about the expected conditions on Friday before the Group F clash with the South Africans. 'It was tough going for both teams, but the opposition are used to it. We certainly didn't give our best performance, but that wasn't possible today.' Dortmund posted a photo on social media of their substitutes watching the first half on television from within the dressing room. 'Our subs watched the first half from inside the locker room to avoid the blazing sun at TQL Stadium — never seen that before, but in this heat, it absolutely makes sense,' wrote the German club on social media platform X. Temperatures were at a high of 32 degrees Celsius in Cincinnati on Saturday, for the game which began at 12:00 pm local time. Kovac said on the eve of the game there was no shelter on the bench from the sun, and warned media to bring sunscreen, hats and water. Other teams have also complained about the summer heat in the United States, especially for matches kicking off in the early afternoon. Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente said his 'toenails' hurt because of the conditions at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for his team's opening clash against Paris Saint-Germain on June 15.
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Shafaq News
40% of Iraq faces desertification, 70% of farmland deemed barren
Shafaq News/ Desertification has affected roughly 40% of the country's total land area, while over 70% of its agricultural land has become unproductive due to prolonged drought and poor water management, Iraq's Green Observatory warned Tuesday. In a statement marking the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the Observatory said large portions of the country now require urgent reforestation and environmental rehabilitation to stem further ecological degradation. 'The desertification crisis is not limited to public land—it has severely impacted farmlands as well,' the statement read, citing field reports from across Iraq's provinces. According to the Observatory, Dhi Qar Province recorded the highest levels of land degradation and population displacement, driven by dwindling vegetation cover and acute water scarcity. In contrast, Nineveh Province saw the lowest levels of desertification, aided by more favorable geography and increased grassroots efforts in tree planting and greenbelt initiatives. The group warned that without swift governmental and regional intervention, Iraq risks facing a severe environmental and humanitarian crisis. 'The continued migration from rural areas to cities will further strain public services and infrastructure,' it stated.
