A Thai academic has said if the Paris agreement on climate change is not enforced effectively, Southeast Asia could be hit harder by heat waves than other regions and Thailand can face extremely hot weather for up to 220 days a year in about 20 years.
The extreme heat across most of Thailand over the past time has seriously affected production, socio-economic and the environment in the Southeast Asian country “as never seen before”, experts said on May 8.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued hot weather warnings for 14 areas across the country, particularly in the states of Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Sarawak and Sabah.
According to the National Centre for Hydro- Metreologogical Forecasting (NCHMF), hot weather is set to scorch northern and northern-central localities on May 18, with the highest temperature ranging from 37 to 40 degrees Celsius.
Malaysian Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has affirmed that the country’s healthcare system is working to prepare to respond to the current prolonged hot weather.
The northern region is facing a high risk of serious electricity shortage this summer due to rising demands and low output of hydropower plants as a result of unfavourable weather conditions, according to the Vietnam Electricity (EVN).
Regions across Vietnam are experiencing hot weather on May 4 with the temperature in some areas exceeding 37 degrees Celsius, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
The first heatwave facing the north this year has arrived, affecting mostly the northwestern area, with the highest temperature on March 21 reaching 34-36 degrees Celsius, even higher in some other places.
The central region from Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen is sweltering under a hot weather for several days, with temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius in some places, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).
While the northern and central regions are experiencing scorching heat, the forecasting centre said the heat may become more extreme in the time ahead.
An ancient ritual was reproduced on June 1 at Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi as part of the celebration of the Doan Ngo Festival (which take place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month), Nhan dan newspaper reported.
The northern and central regions began to experience a heat wave on April 24 which is forecast to reach its peak from April 25 - 27, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
Hot weather is forecast to scorch northern and north-central provinces this week with temperatures ranging from 35 to 40 degrees Celsius, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
