A punishing heat wave is currently sweeping through South and Southeast Asia, leaving hundreds of millions of people struggling to cope with the extreme temperatures. The scorching heat has forced schools to close, disrupted agriculture, and raised concerns about the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to such high temperatures.
In Bangladesh, where temperatures have soared above 107 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, the humidity has made the heat feel even more unbearable. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has warned that the discomfort may increase in the coming days due to increasing moisture incursion, leading to a higher risk of heat-related illnesses such as cholera and diarrhea.
Public health experts are advising people to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day and to stay hydrated to prevent heat strokes and other health complications. However, for many people who work outdoors, such as rickshaw pullers like Nur-e-Alam in Dhaka, scaling back work hours is not always an option, leading to a significant impact on their earnings.
The heat wave is also affecting neighboring India, where extreme temperatures have strained power grids, forced school closures, and threatened crop production. The timing of the heat wave coinciding with India’s general election has added another layer of complexity, with election authorities working to provide water on voting days and political parties bringing cooling devices to campaign rallies.
In Myanmar, the ruling military junta recently cited soaring temperatures as a reason for moving ousted civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from prison to an undisclosed location. Many believe that the real reasons for her relocation are political, with the heat serving as a convenient excuse.
The heat wave in Asia is not occurring in isolation, as last year was the Earth’s warmest on record and the region is currently experiencing an El Niño cycle, which tends to create warm, dry conditions. Relief is expected with the arrival of the summer monsoon, but until then, people in the region will have to endure the sweltering heat and take precautions to stay safe.
