In Thailand, 61 people have already died this year due to the sometimes extreme heat. Nationwide, 61 people have died of heat stroke since the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Health in Bangkok said on Friday. Most of the heat deaths occurred in the heavily agricultural northeast of the country. There were 37 heat deaths in the entire year of 2023.
Extremely high temperatures prevailed in the Southeast Asian country for weeks. Authorities issued daily heat warnings for the capital Bangkok for a week in April because the “perceived heat” rose to over 52 degrees Celsius.
Rainy season started later
The rainy season in Thailand began later than usual this year, and the period of drought and oppressive heat lasted longer than usual. In recent days, thunderstorms have caused cooling in some regions. In return, however, the authorities warned of floods.
In April, the kingdom recorded maximum temperatures of 44.2 degrees Celsius in the northern province of Lampang. They were just below the national record of 44.6 degrees last year.
Scientists regularly warn that human-caused climate change is leading to more frequent, longer and more intense heat waves. This year the conditions will be made even worse by the climate phenomenon El Niño. In addition, according to the United Nations World Weather Organization, Asia is warming faster than the global average.