The heat wave causes water shortages in Iran, as well as the Temperature Commission of up to 50 EGP | Climate crisis news star-news.press/wp

The dam tanks that provide water to Tehran are currently at their lowest level in a century.

The Iranian authorities have urged people to reduce water consumption, as the country is wrestling with a severe shortage during a continuous heat.

The National Meteorological Service said that Iran is witnessing more week of the year so far with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in some areas.

Government spokeswoman Fatima Muhajrani announced in a publication on Sunday that Tehran will monitor a public holiday on Wednesday due to the ongoing heat wave.

“In light of the continuous heat and the need to maintain water and electricity, it was announced on Wednesday … a holiday in Tehran Province.”

The temperatures in Tehran reached 40 ° C (104f) on Sunday, with another rise to 41C (106F) for Monday’s expectations, according to meteorological reports.

The effect of climate change

The scarcity of water is a major issue in Iran, especially in arid provinces in the south of the country, with a lack of mismanagement and excessive exploitation of underground resources, as well as the increasing effect of climate change.

The head of the Tehran City Council, Mahdi Shamran, urged people to “maintain water to avoid drivers in supplies,” according to the ISNA news agency.

The authorities throughout Iran have issued similar appeals in recent days, asking the population in many provinces to limit the use of water.

Tehran’s water management company has called for a “at least 20 percent” to help reduce the shortage.

In a statement, she said, “The dam tanks that provide water to Tehran are currently in their lowest level in a century,” after years of steady decline in rain.

Javan, a conservative newspaper, said on Saturday that the authorities reduced water supplies in parts of the capital in an attempt to alleviate the crisis, which led to “water outage that lasts between 12 and 18 hours” in some areas.

On Sunday, Energy Minister Abbas Albadi apologized for a decrease in water supply, saying that the move comes to “better manage resources.”