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Thailand Asks Its Citizens to Beware of Extreme Heat Waves. PHOTO/Reuters
BANGKOK – The authority Thailand on Saturday (21/4/2023) warned residents in most of the country, including the capital Bangkok, to avoid going out due to extreme heat .
Parts of Asia are reporting extreme heat this month, with record-breaking temperatures seen in several countries. In Bangladesh and parts of India, extreme heat has led to a spike in demand for electricity, causing power outages and shortages for millions of people.
As reported by Reuters, in Bangkok’s Bagna district, the temperature reached 42 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit). Meanwhile the heat index – which includes relative humidity and measures what the temperature is like – hit a record 54 C (129 F), according to the meteorological department.
Authorities warned residents to avoid outdoor activities and be aware of the dangers of heat stroke. “Sometimes, I take shelter in the convenience store to escape the heat,” said Amporn Supasert (67), a grilled chicken seller in Bangkok.
Thailand’s disaster prevention and mitigation department said temperatures would exceed 40 degrees Celsius in at least 28 provinces on Saturday.
Recent extreme heat has broken electricity consumption records, with the country consuming more than 39,000 megawatts on April 6, surpassing the previous record of 32,000 megawatts in April last year, said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.
“What’s happening right now is caused by climate change, affecting (weather) abnormalities and phenomena called extreme weather,” Mathinee Yucharoen, researcher of coastal oceanography and climate change at Prince of Songkhla University, told Reuters.
(esn)
