Large parts of Southeast Asia have been sweating for weeks under an unusually strong heat wave. An emerging El Nino phase is responsible for the extreme temperatures, the newspaper “Bangkok Post” wrote, citing meteorologists. Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines are currently particularly affected. The “brutal heat” must be seen as an “ominous sign” before summer in the northern hemisphere and is “a warning to the world,” it said.
44,1 Grad in Vietnam
Vietnam recorded the highest temperature ever measured in the country in the central province of Thanh Hoa at the weekend with 44.1 degrees, according to the national weather service. The previous record was from 2019 and was 43.3 degrees. But the mercury column also climbed to over 40 degrees in other parts of the country. The authorities warned of power failures due to network overload.
“We observe that the heat has come early this year and is worse than in previous years,” weather bureau chief Nguyen Van Huong told Voice of Vietnam. The scorching heat is expected to last until August and will become even more intense by then.
drought feared
In many parts of Thailand, temperatures have been around 40 degrees for days. Experts fear a drought here that could last for several years. Locals and tourists alike tried to protect themselves with umbrellas and sun hats. “It’s almost unbearable in the sun, it feels like 50 degrees,” said a German tourist in Bangkok. “It’s really intense.”
In the Philippines, too, the authorities warned people of health risks if they stayed outdoors for longer. The heat wave has been going on in the island nation since early March. In mid-April, maximum temperatures of 49 degrees were measured in the province of Eastern Samar. The Department of Education allowed schools to shorten classes or hold classes online. In the past few weeks, more than 100 students have been hospitalized due to exhaustion from overheating, the ministry said.
