The Asian region is currently experiencing an unprecedented heatwave. This harsh reality substantiates the predictions of climate scientists that 2023 could be the hottest year on record.
According to The Times, in a worrying sign ahead of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, a type of El Niño weather pattern is emerging, pushing mercury levels to unprecedented heights in the southern parts of the continent. Vietnam reported its highest-ever temperature of 44.2 degrees Celsius over the past weekend, while Laos is also likely to break temperature records.
The Philippines has had to reduce school hours after the heat index reached “danger” levels, reflecting a combination of temperature and humidity that can be lethal.
Extreme weather patterns, increasingly driven by greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere, are pushing the world into an unprecedented crisis. Governments are struggling to protect public health while preventing major disruptions to agricultural production and electricity generation, all while the economy is still recovering from the devastation of Covid-19.
Workers unloading stones at a wet market during the heatwave in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 27, 2023.
Tieh-Yong Koh, an associate professor and weather and climate scientist at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, stated that the prolonged drought across Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand is due to limited rainfall during last winter.
He explained: “Because dry land heats up faster than wet land, the unusual heat phenomenon naturally forms as spring arrives.” Tieh-Yong also noted that this phenomenon has been exacerbated by global warming over the past decades.
Temperatures in Thailand have remained above 40 degrees Celsius in many areas of the north and central regions in recent weeks, pushing electricity demand to record highs. A coalition of businesses and banks has urged the government to prepare an action plan to address the looming drought, which they believe could last for three years.
Rainfall in Malaysia may be down by as much as 40% in some areas, posing a risk to palm oil production, as Malaysia is one of the largest producers of this commodity in the world. Authorities are closely monitoring the resurgence of forest fires and air pollution. The El Niño event in 2015 caused particularly severe haze and was one of the worst environmental disasters in Southeast Asia.
In other parts of Asia, high temperatures have affected many areas in China, India, and Bangladesh over the past few weeks. Yunnan Province, a major aluminum production center in southwest China, has suffered the worst drought in a decade last month.
India is on high alert for multiple heatwaves after soaring temperatures in April forced schools to close in several states and resulted in at least 11 heatstroke deaths following an event.
Below are images illustrating how the heatwave is significantly impacting the lives of people across Asia:
Anything can become a shade for people in Singapore as they walk along Orchard Road on April 13, 2023. Orchard Road, also known as “the glamorous street,” is lined with trees and numerous shopping centers, hotels, and upscale restaurants.
People walking through a dust storm on a hot summer day in Prayagraj, India, on April 18, 2023.
A man using a scarf to shield himself from the heat in New Delhi, India, on April 19, 2023.
People gathering to drink a chilled beverage to cool off on a hot afternoon in the old quarter of New Delhi on April 21, 2023.
Nuns collecting alms with headscarves and umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun during a heatwave in Yangon, Myanmar, on April 24, 2023.
Children playing in an inflatable pool by the roadside amid the summer heat in Manila, Philippines, on April 26, 2023.
A woman shielding her face with her phone on a hot day in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on April 27, 2023.
A man covering his head with a paper bag on a hot day in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on April 27, 2023. Malaysia is expected to experience prolonged hot weather until August, following the transitional monsoon period.
An office worker using a handheld fan to cool off during the hot weather in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 28, 2023.
A man spraying water to cool an elephant on a hot summer day at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan Zoo in Mumbai, India, on May 2, 2023.
People crossing the street at Raffles Place, Singapore, on May 3, 2023.
People using umbrellas to shield themselves from the heat while visiting famous tourist spots in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 8, 2023. Thai authorities issued health warnings to the public to prevent heat exhaustion as temperatures continue to rise.
A man wrapping a cloth around his head to avoid the heat during a heatwave in Yangon, Myanmar, on May 8, 2023.
People finding ways to cool off from the heat in Hala, Pakistan, on May 8, 2023.
