Heat in Southeast Asia: Scientists still don't know when to stop

Many weeks have passed but the hot weather still shows no signs of cooling down in Southeast Asian countries. Scientists even stated that they cannot predict the end date of this record hot period.

Manila Times newspaper reported that the highest temperature in the Philippines in the last days of April could range from 42 to 44 degrees Celsius, while Thaiger newspaper said the highest temperature in Thailand ranged from 38 to 41 degrees Celsius depending on the area.

(Graphics: T.DAT)

Struggling with record temperatures

Millions of people in Southeast Asian countries are experiencing days of crisis due to record high temperatures .

The heat suddenly turned people's lives upside down. Dry weather prevents crops from growing, water sources are depleted, while electricity consumption for cooling equipment such as fans, air conditioners, and refrigerators increases.

According to Singapore's CNA Radio, a series of health problems arising from the heat also make people worried. Heat not only increases the risk of heart disease, lung disease, stroke, and heatstroke, but also creates the risk of heat stroke when many people take advantage of "hiding from the sun" in shady places and then immediately step out to confront each other. with the hot sun in the middle of a summer day.

Not only that, hot sun also negatively affects psychology because the hot sun makes people feel anxious and tired. This leads to social effects such as irritability and difficulty regulating emotions and behavior.

In mid-April, Myanmar military government spokesman Zaw Min Tun said former leader Aung San Suu Kyi (79 years old) had been transferred from prison to house arrest because it was too hot.

"Because the weather is very hot, not only for Aung San Suu Kyi, but also for prisoners who need the necessary precautions, especially older prisoners. We are making efforts to protect They avoid heat stroke ," said Major General Zaw Min Tun.

Not only people, the rising temperature also causes the sea water temperature to increase, leading to cool green beaches in Thailand about to become "boiling pots" of colorful coral reefs in this country, according to the newspaper. Guardian.

Coping with heat

A pedestrian shields himself from the sun while walking in Bangkok, Thailand - (Photo: Xinhua)

According to CNN, although average temperatures in Southeast Asia have increased steadily for decades since 1960, weather experts say one of the most worrying features of the heat wave is currently spreading. throughout the region is a long period of hot weather with no predictable end point.

Researchers from Swiss climate research group IQ Air said the heatwave in early summer 2024 was caused by a combination of factors including human-caused climate change and the effects of El Nino.

"This phenomenon leads to unprecedented temperature increases across the region ," IU Air researchers said in a statement posted on April 5. "We currently do not see an exact end date for the hot days, because the temperature drop depends on factors such as the weather and the government's efforts to reduce heat," said the researchers. rescue added.

Professor Benjamin Horton, director of the Singapore Earth Observatory, said the level of heat recorded globally in the past 12 months, both on land and in the ocean, has surprised the scientific community.

"We always knew that the world would move in this direction with increasing greenhouse gases, but we surpassed the heat record earlier than expected ," Mr. Horton said.

"There are very few places in the world that have the ability to cope with this type of high temperature ," Mr. Horton added, saying society needs to find ways to adapt to the heat.

In Singapore, some schools have relaxed uniform regulations, allowing students to wear gym uniforms to school instead of wearing formal uniforms. Businesses can also proactively adjust their work schedules if there are outdoor activities.

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) also requires manual workers to take breaks between work hours more often to avoid the heat. Currently, more and more buildings in Singapore are using new materials to minimize the heat island effect in urban areas, such as building rooftop gardens or using reflective paint to reduce the amount of heat absorbed. .

Great impact on children and the elderly

Extreme weather negatively affects the elderly and young children the most. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warns that more than 243 million children across Southeast Asia and the Pacific are at risk of heat-related illnesses and even death this summer.

As UNICEF experts explain, because children have less ability to self-regulate their body temperature than adults, they are more susceptible to temperature-related diseases such as chronic respiratory diseases, asthma and other illnesses. cardiovascular-related diseases.

"Children are more vulnerable than adults to the impacts of climate change, and extreme heat is a potential threat to childhood mortality," said Ms. Debora Comini, director of the East Asia and Regional Office. UNICEF Pacific, said.