Climate change
Record heatwave in Thailand leaves more than 60 dead
People in Bangkok protect themselves from the extreme heat and sun with umbrellas. photo
© Carola Frentzen/dpa
There have already been dozens of heat deaths in Thailand this year. This bodes badly for the future – because global warming is progressing faster in Asia than elsewhere.
Thailand had recently suffered from extreme heat for weeks. In the capital Bangkok and many other parts of the country, the temperatures barely fell below 30 degrees, even at night. The heat index, i.e. the perceived temperature with a view to humidity and other factors, was regularly over 50 degrees, especially at lunchtime. The authorities in Bangkok had repeatedly urged the population to stay indoors if possible.
Asia is warming particularly quickly
After it rained in many parts of the country at the beginning of the week for the first time in months, the temperatures had dropped slightly – but on Friday they were well over 30 degrees again in many places. The Thai people are used to high temperatures, but it has almost never been as intense as this year – and over such a long period of time.
According to experts, one of the reasons for this is the dreaded climate phenomenon El Niño. But Asia is also warming faster than the global average, according to an April report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Extreme heat has recently also prevailed in Bangladesh and Vietnam. Myanmar and the Philippines. “Despite the growing health risks from extreme heat, heat-related deaths often go unreported,” the UN agency warned.