BANGKOK: Heatstroke has claimed the lives of 61 individuals in Thailand this year, surpassing the total of 2023, as announced by the health ministry on Friday following weeks of scorching temperatures across the region.
Thailand has been hit by a wave of exceptionally hot weather in recent weeks, leading authorities to issue frequent warnings about the intense heat.
The health ministry reported that 61 people have succumbed to heatstroke since the beginning of 2024, compared to 37 deaths in the entirety of 2023. The highest number of fatalities occurred in Thailand’s northeast, known as the country’s agricultural heartland.
Scientists have consistently warned that human-induced climate change will result in more frequent, prolonged, and intense heatwaves. This year’s unusually warm weather is partly attributed to the El Niño phenomenon, while Asia is also experiencing a faster rate of warming compared to the global average, according to the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization.
Apichart Vachiraphan, Deputy of Thailand’s Department of Disease Control, cautioned individuals with underlying medical conditions to minimize their time outdoors.
Thailand has experienced a delayed monsoon season this year, resulting in prolonged sweltering conditions. While recent storms have brought relief by lowering temperatures, authorities have issued warnings about potential flash flooding.
In April, the northern province of Lampang recorded a temperature of 44.2 degrees Celsius, just short of the all-time national record of 44.6 degrees Celsius set last year.
