5 Southeast Asian Countries Hit by Heat Wave; Is Singapore Included?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A scorching heat wave is ravaging Southeast Asia, with air temperatures soaring to unprecedented heights, prompting authorities to issue health alerts and take precautionary measures to avoid any fatal fallout.

Unlike other Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia has been grappling with a dengue fever outbreak, which has doubled the number of cases from last year. Here is a list of five Southeast Asian countries grappling with heat waves:

1. Philippines

The Philippines has closed schools as authorities across Southeast Asia issued health alerts for a crushing heat wave. It also warned of an overload on its power grid. On Sunday, April 28, the Ministry of Education canceled face-to-face classes in public schools for two days.

“We already have reports of high blood pressure and dizziness, and fainting for pupils and teachers in the past days,” Benjo Basas, chairperson of an educator group Teachers' Dignity Coalition told DWPM radio station, as reported by Reuters.

The air temperatures in the Philippines were expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in the next three days. The country's weather agency said that the heat index, or the actual temperature felt by the body to include relative humidity, was expected to hit 45 degrees Celsius, classified as “dangerous” as conditions can trigger heatstroke from prolonged exposure.

2. Thailand

The meteorological agency in Thailand has advised people to refrain from being outdoors for long periods, as the air temperatures in Bangkok and the northern regions of the country are forecasted to exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

The air temperatures might even soar to 44.2 degrees Celsius in the northern city of Lampang on April 22. The meteorological agency also expected extreme heat to continue this week. L

Moreover, the health ministry has reported 30 deaths from heatstroke last month.

3. Vietnam

Vietnamese media reported that the sweltering heat has driven people to seek shelter in air-conditioned shopping malls in the country’s business hub, Ho Chi Minh City. The national weather agency had warned of the risk of forest fires, dehydration, and heat stroke as the air temperatures in parts of northern and central Vietnam would range between 40.2 and 44.0 degrees Celsius.

The agency reported on Sunday, April 28, that the temperatures would not ease until Wednesday, May 1. Besides, as electricity consumption has hit record highs in recent days, Vietnam's state power company has also urged people not to overwork their air conditioning units.

4. Malaysia

Malaysia's meteorological department issued a hot weather warning for 16 regions on Sunday, April 28, as the temperatures were expected to be between 35 and 40 degrees for three consecutive days.

As of April 13, the health ministry recorded a total of 45 cases of heat-related illnesses, and two deaths due to heat stroke have also been reported.

5. Singapore

Singapore’s meteorological service confirmed that the air temperatures could surge higher in 2024 than last year, the country’s fourth-hottest year since records began in 1929.

May 13, 2023, was the hottest day ever recorded in Singapore, with a maximum temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. Since last month, some schools have relaxed their uniform policies so that students could dress more comfortably for physical education classes amid the ongoing heat.

Indonesia

Meanwhile, Indonesia is encountering a surge in cases of dengue fever amid Southeast Asia’s warmer temperatures. The health ministry noted that the number of infections transmitted by mosquitoes doubled to 35,000 from 15,000 a year earlier.

The Health Ministry’s spokesperson, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, told state news agency Antara that the El Nino climate pattern has extended the dry season and caused hotter temperatures, speeding up mosquitoes’ life cycles.

REUTERS | ANTARA

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