The mercury was forecast to hit 39 degrees Celsius in Thailand,while the heat index rose above 52 degrees Celsius, classed as "extremelydangerous" by the municipal authorities.
April is typically the hottest and most humid time ofthe year in Thailand, but conditions this year have been exacerbated by the ElNino weather pattern.
The country has sweltered through a heatwave thisweek, with a temperature of 44.2 degrees Celsius recorded in the northernprovince of Lampang on April 22 - just shy of the all-time national record of44.6 degrees Celsius.
The hot weather is expected to continue in the comingdays, and the government has urged people to stay hydrated, apply sunscreen andexercise indoors to avoid heatstroke./.