Parts of Thailand have been sweating for days under an unseasonal heat wave. The north of the popular holiday destination and the capital Bangkok are particularly affected. Things are set to get even worse: According to forecasts from the local weather office, temperatures in all parts of the country will at least temporarily exceed 40 degrees in both March and April.
The values would be up to two degrees higher than normal this summer, which began in Thailand at the end of February, the Bangkok Post newspaper quoted the authority’s director general, Kornravee Sitthichitvapak, as saying.
The thing with the high air temperature
But the air temperature is one thing, the heat index – which describes the perceived temperature – is quite another, warned the expert. “Summer temperatures recorded in Thailand have never reached 50 degrees, and we will not experience that this year or in many future years,” said Sitthichitvapak. It feels like the values will exceed the dreaded 50 degree mark in the coming weeks.
The heat is particularly dangerous for chronically ill people, seniors and people who are overweight, emphasized Atchara Nithiapinyasakul, Director General of the Ministry of Health. If the heat index is 42 to 51.9 degrees, outdoor activities could cause cramps and fatigue and increase the risk of heat stroke. “If the heat index exceeds 52 degrees, it is classified as ‘very dangerous’. Prolonged exposure to heat of this intensity results in a very high risk of heat stroke,” she warned. This causes the body’s entire temperature regulation to break down.
Between 2019 and 2023, 131 deaths from heat stroke were recorded in Thailand, according to the ministry – more than 26 per year.
Report Bangkok Post Report The Nation
