Iran shuts down for two days because of 'unprecedented heat'

FILE PHOTO: The sun rises at a sugar cane farm in the southern Iranian city of Ahvaz 1,000 km (621 miles) south west of Tehran April 7, 2005. Picture taken on April 7, 2005. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl MN/DL/File Photo

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has announced Wednesday and Thursday this week will be public holidays because of "unprecedented heat" and told the elderly and people with health conditions to stay indoors, Iranian state media reported.

Many cities in southern Iran have already suffered from days of exceptional heat. State media reported temperatures had this week exceeded 123 degrees Fahrenheit (51 Celsius) in the southern city of Ahvaz.