Bangkok, April 22 (BNA): Today, Saturday, the Thai authorities warned residents in large areas of the country, including the capital, Bangkok, to avoid going outdoors due to the extreme temperatures.
Parts of Asia have reported sweltering temperatures this month, with record temperatures recorded in some countries. Reuters reports that high temperatures in Bangladesh and parts of India are driving up demand for electricity, causing blackouts and power shortages for millions of people.
In Bangkok’s Bagna district, the temperature reached 42 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit), while the heat index — which includes relative humidity and measures the shape of the temperature — reached 54 degrees Celsius (129 Fahrenheit), according to the meteorological department. .
Authorities have warned residents to avoid outdoor activities and to beware of the risk of heatstroke.
“Sometimes I resort to a 7-11… to escape the heat,” said Ampurn Subasert, 67, a roast chicken vendor in Bangkok.
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said temperatures would exceed 40 degrees Celsius in at least 28 provinces on Saturday.
Government spokesperson Anucha Purapachisri said the recent extreme heat has broken electricity consumption records, as the country consumed more than 39,000 megawatts on April 6, surpassing the previous record of 32,000 megawatts in April last year.
“What is happening now is caused by climate change affecting abnormal (weather) and a phenomenon called extreme weather,” Matheny Yocharoen, a researcher in coastal oceanography and climate change at Prince of Songkhla University, told Reuters.
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