Over the past few weeks, most regions across South and Southeast Asia have been experiencing some of the highest temperatures observed in decades.
The temperature rise has been credited to the impact of the ongoing El Nino phenomenon for the most part. However, a recent study shows that recent heat waves have not only been traveling slower than they used to (about 5 days slower now than in the last decade), but they also stay for longer (4 days longer).
The searing heat has led the Philippines to one of the worst conditions. According to a recent report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, temperatures have been nearing 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), causing immense discomfort to not just people, but also pets and livestock.
Meanwhile, daytime temperatures in Dhaka and surrounding areas have reached 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit).
The situation is especially dire in Thailand’s urban city of Bangkok, where the temperature has not fallen below 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), even at night. The higher temperatures have also led to record-high power usage as people reach for their cooling devices to keep the heat away.
With Vietnam being one of the largest global rice exporters this long dry heat wave is expected to cause further trouble for farmers. This heat wave is said to be the longest for Ho Chi Minh City in the past 30 years.
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