Fire at Baghdad utilities plant leaves millions without water

? A mortar attack sparked a fire Friday that forced authorities to shut down a water plant, leaving millions of weary Baghdad residents with dry taps in 100-degree heat, Iraqi officials said.

Graphic shows status of electricity and safe drinking water by region in Iraq; 1c x 6 1/2 inches, 47 mm x 165 mm; 2c x 3 1/2 inches, 96 mm x 89 mm

Just a day earlier, the mayor of the capital threatened to quit because of mounting infrastructure problems – including a lack of clean drinking water.

The blaze at a power station north of Baghdad cut off electricity to a water plant serving northern and western parts of the capital, officials said. The fire halted all distribution from the waterworks, and project director Jassim Mohammed said repairs could take three days.

The U.S. military press office initially quoted Iraqi engineers as saying the fire was triggered by a defective transformer. However, an Iraqi municipal official said at least two mortar rounds struck the power station. Mohammed also attributed the fire to an attack.

A U.S. spokesman for Task Force Baghdad, Master Sgt. Greg Kaufman, said later that unexploded ordnance was found in the area but “we’re still not sure” what triggered the fire.

The water shortage added to the misery of Baghdad’s estimated 6.5 million people, who face frequent electricity outages, erratic fuel supplies, congested traffic, diminished public services and the ever present threat of kidnappings and car bombings.

On Thursday, the city’s mayor, Alaa Mahmoud al-Timimi, threatened to quit unless the government provides more money for repairs.