Extreme heat scorches Southeast Asia, bringing school closures and warnings

Extensive scientific research has found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense.

Extreme heat scorched parts of South and Southeast Asia on Wednesday (Apr 24), prompting schools across the Philippines to suspend classes, heat warnings in the Thai capital and worshippers in Bangladesh to pray for rain.

The high temperatures were recorded just a day after the United Nations said Asia was the region that suffered the most disasters from climate and weather hazards in 2023, with floods and storms the chief causes of casualties and economic losses.

Extensive scientific research has found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense.