Temperatures are expected to rise to 50 degrees Celsius or higher in central and southern Iraq this week.

"There is no electricity to use these in order to cool ourselves. The weather is very hot. This is another grievance. The electricity comes and goes," Ahmad Qasim, a Baghdad resident told Rudaw.

Already facing a water shortage, Iraqis have turned to swimming pools and air coolers.

"People buy these swimming pools to cool themselves because of the heat. These fans are cool too. The heat is really intense. It is not natural," said another local, Ahmad Faraj.

Older people are concerned about kids working on the street and a reduction in the national electricity supply.

"Our instruction, especially to those who have allergies and are affected particularly by the sun, is to avoid the sun during this season. They should wear appropriate clothes and consider their color. They need to wear a hat, glasses and apply sun cream daily. These will protect peoples' health," said Dr. Sayf Badr, Iraq's Ministry of Health spokesperson.

According to Iraq's meteorological agency, the heat wave will continue until next Friday in most Iraqi central and southern cities.