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In the Iranian capital Tehran, the heatwave is bringing temperatures of well over 40 degrees. (archive picture)
Keystone
According to state media, banks and most state institutions in Iran will remain closed on Sunday due to a severe heatwave. Emergency and aid organizations are exempt from the nationwide closure.
"Banks and other public institutions will remain closed on Sunday to protect people's health and conserve energy," a government statement published by the state news agency Irna said on Saturday.
The spokesman for Iran's emergency services, Babak Jektaparast, advised citizens not to go outside between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm. On Saturday, the first day of the week in Iran, the government had set the opening time for banks and other state institutions to 6.00 a.m. to give the population the opportunity to do business before temperatures rose too high.
Working hours in the public sector were also halved on Saturday. This resulted in electricity savings of 1000 megawatts, Irna reported. According to official figures, electricity consumption in Iran had risen to a record high of more than 79,000 megawatts on Thursday.
Iran has been experiencing an extreme heatwave since Friday, with temperatures well above 40 degrees in the capital Tehran. In the southwestern city of Dalgan, the thermometer rose to 50 degrees, according to the Tasnim news agency. According to Irna, the heatwave is expected to continue for the next four days - although the temperature is expected to gradually start dropping from Monday.
28.07.2024, 00:38
