Hundreds protest in Iraq's Maysan over prolonged power cuts

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Hundreds of residents took to the streets in the Hidr district of Maysan province to protest worsening electricity outages in recent days, demonstrating in front of the local electricity administration office and calling for urgent action. Power cuts have stretched to as long as four hours a day in some areas, with only one hour of supply provided in return, according to protester Kais Ali. The disruptions come as temperatures rise, affecting tens of thousands of families in the district, Ali said. He warned that the demonstration could mark the start of a broader popular movement in the coming days and could expand into an open-ended sit-in if no solution is offered. Protesters also pointed to corruption and irregularities in the electricity sector, recalling unfulfilled promises by previous governments to upgrade power infrastructure. No immediate response from provincial authorities was reported.