Blackout Protests Grip Baghdad Amid Severe Power Cuts
Baghdad residents protest severe power cuts amid a 50°C heatwave by burning tires. The demonstrations reflect wider unrest, with similar protests for basic services occurring in Diyala province as the government struggles to provide electricity.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Streets in Baghdad were set ablaze with burning tires last night as residents erupted in protest, demanding the Iraqi government restore electricity amid a suffocating heatwave with temperatures reaching 50°C.
The demonstrations took place on Friday night, in eastern Baghdad and the Hay Kufa area, where a large number of people took to the streets to voice their frustration over the chronic power shortages.
"While the temperatures are very high, we also have no electricity. How can we endure this heat?" protesters said.
The demonstrators expressed deep frustration with the inconsistent power supply, which they say has become unbearable during the region's record-high temperatures. "The government provides us with electricity for a minimal amount of time during the day, and at night we have none at all," they added. "Therefore, we will continue to protest until our problems are solved."
The unrest comes as Iraq grapples with extreme weather conditions attributed to low rainfall and climate change. With temperatures in the capital and southern regions reaching half the boiling point, the government's inability to provide consistent electricity has fueled widespread public discontent. The situation has led to citizens in Baghdad and other provinces taking to the streets to protest the lack of electricity, water, and other services.
The Baghdad protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations over service failures in the country. Last Sunday, July 20, 2025, citizens of Khalis town in Diyala province also held a demonstration due to a lack of basic services.
According to local Iraqi media reports, residents of Khalis protested in front of the district administration building, demanding essential services, with a particular focus on the need for road paving, electricity, and water.
