Thai authorities on Saturday warned residents in large parts of the country, including the capital Bangkok, to avoid going outdoors due to the extreme heat.
Parts of Asia are reporting extreme heat this month, with record temperatures in some countries. In Bangladesh and parts of India, extreme heat is causing a spike in demand for power, leading to power outages and shortages for millions of people.
In Bangkok’s Bagna district, the temperature hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while the heat index, which includes relative humidity and measures what the temperature feels like, hit a record high of 129F, according to the meteorological department.
Authorities warned residents to avoid outdoor activities and beware of the danger of heat stroke.
“Sometimes, I take refuge in the 7-11 convenience store … to escape the heat,” said Amporn Supasert, 67, a grilled chicken vendor in Bangkok.
Thailand’s disaster prevention and mitigation department said temperatures topped 104 F in at least 28 provinces on Saturday.
The recent extreme heat has broken electricity consumption records, with the country consuming more than 39,000 megawatts on April 6, surpassing the previous record of 32,000 megawatts in April last year, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said.
«What’s happening right now is caused by climate change, which influences abnormal (weather) and a phenomenon called extreme weather,» Mathinee Yucharoen, a coastal oceanography and climate change researcher at the University of California, told Reuters. Prince of Songkhla.