Extreme Hot Weather Hits Southeast Asia

Warning of the danger of extreme heat in parts of Asia. Heat wave disaster mitigation is urgent.

AFP/TED ALJIBE

Pedestrians use umbrellas to protect their heads from the hot sun while walking in Manila, Philippines, April 25, 2024.

Millions of people in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia are facing extremely hot temperatures. This extraordinary heat forces schools to close, limits outdoor activities for citizens, and threatens public health, even causing fatalities.

April and May are usually the hottest months in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. However, this year's temperature is exacerbated by the El Nino event that causes the weather to become hotter and drier in the region.

Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius hit the Philippines and Thailand due to the El Nino phenomenon. In Cavite, an area south of Manila, the temperature reached 47 degrees Celsius on Wednesday (24/4/2024). Meanwhile, the Phuket area, Thailand, is estimated to be hit by a temperature of 54 degrees Celsius this weekend (Kompas, 24/4/2024).

Also read: Thailand-Philippines Smoldering as Temperatures Exceed 50 Degrees

As the Guardian reported, hot temperatures forced schools across the Philippines, including the capital city of Manila and its surroundings, to be closed. Residents are warned of the potential for heat stroke. UN data shows that half of the 82 provinces in this country are experiencing drought.

AFP/EARVIN PERIAS

A man pours water on his body during an extreme heat wave in Manila, Philippines on April 28, 2024. Due to the hot weather, schools were closed for two days as a precaution against the extreme heat wave.

Meanwhile, Thai authorities have reported 30 deaths due to heatstroke this year and warned residents to avoid outdoor activities. Electricity demand reached a new high on Monday night, reaching 35,830 megawatts as residents turned to air conditioning.

In the capital city of Bangkok, the temperature reached 40.1 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Local authorities warned that the "heat index" could exceed 52 degrees Celsius. This measurement reflects the temperature conditions, taking into account the humidity level which is an important factor for human health.

Faster heating

The State of the Climate Report in Asia 2023, released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), found that Asia is experiencing warming at a faster rate than the global average. The warming trend has increased almost twice as much since the period between 1961 and 1990.

Asia remained the most disaster-affected region in the world due to weather, climate and water-related hazards in 2023. Floods and storms caused the highest number of fatalities and losses reported. Meanwhile heat waves are becoming more severe.

AP/AARON FAVILA

A woman takes a photo near the ruins of a church in the old town of Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija Province, on April 26, 2024. The remains of the old town of Pantabangan resurface in the northern part of the Philippines after the water level of the dam drops amid a drought that is affecting several countries.

According to the Secretary-General of the WMO, Celeste Saulo, in a press release on the WMO's official website on Tuesday (23/4/2024), many countries in this region experienced record-breaking hottest years in 2023, along with a series of extreme conditions, ranging from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms.

Also read: Hot Weather and Jeepney Drivers Strike, Philippines Closes Schools

In 2023, according to the Emergency Events Database, a total of 79 disasters related to hydrometeorological events were reported in Asia. Of that number, more than 80 percent were caused by floods and storms, resulting in more than 2,000 fatalities and around 9 million people directly affected.

Asia experiences faster warming compared to the global average. The warming trend has increased almost twice as much since the period between 1961 to 1990.

Although the health risks posed by extreme heat have increased, the death toll from heat is often not reported. The Deputy Secretary-General of WMO, Ko Barret, has stated that extreme heat is becoming the world's biggest silent killer, including in Asia.

The acceleration of key indicators of climate change, such as surface temperature, glacier melting, and rising sea levels, will have a huge impact on the community, economy, and ecosystems in this region. In 2023, the sea surface temperature in the northwest Pacific Ocean will reach a record high.

The climate crisis triggered by human activities has contributed to the occurrence of extreme weather throughout the world, making disasters more frequent and deadly, including heat waves. Therefore, global action, including countries in the Asian region, must be strengthened to mitigate the risk of more severe disasters.