From India, to Bangladesh and the Philippines, people, animals and crops are suffering under a sweltering heatwave. Climate experts attribute the excessive heat to climate change and the impact of a powerful El Niño in the western Pacific.

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Climate Crisis

Title: Heatwave Sweeping Across Asia Amid Powerful El Niño

A prevailing heatwave across Asia, covering countries including India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, is having severe impacts on residents, wildlife, and agriculture. This current climate ordeal is attributed to the exacerbating effects of climate change coupled with a potent El Niño phenomenon in the western Pacific region, as reported by climate specialists.

In various parts of Asia, populations are grappling with unprecedented heat levels. For instance, Eastern India recorded its hottest April on record, with local efforts to mitigate the heat proving futile against the rising temperatures. The nation's weather agency has anticipated an increase in heatwave occurrences through the season, causing significant disruptions such as school closures in Kerala state and prevalent forest fires.

Adjacent Bangladesh is witnessing similar adversities, with Rohingya refugees struggling to cope with the scorching temperatures in their makeshift shelters. Local efforts to stave off the effects include government-issued warnings and mitigation strategies against forest fires, heat strokes, and dehydration risks.

In the Philippines, Manila's local government has initiated a free mobile shower program to alleviate the discomfort caused by the heatwave, addressing the added challenge of water shortages. Meanwhile, the agriculture sector faces threats from the heat, contributing to crop failures and economic losses for farmers due to produce quality deterioration.

The broader implications of the heatwave extend to disruptions in education, as schools in Cambodia have resorted to shortening class hours to protect students from the heat's toll on their wellbeing. Conservation efforts are also undergoing adjustments, with wildlife rescue centers creating new water ponds to cater to the needs of animals, highlighting the overarching consequences of the heatwave on both humans and animals.

Experts, including Thai conservation scientist Patchmanapawit, express concerns over the future, emphasizing the critical need for awareness and preparedness against prolonged hot weather periods and their far-reaching impacts.



Heatwave sweeping across Asia amid powerful El Niño

From India to Bangladesh and the Philippines, people, animals, and crops are suffering under a sweltering heat wave. Climate experts attribute the excessive heat to climate change and the impact of a powerful El Nino in the Western Pacific. Patchmanapawit is a Thai conservation scientist. PATCHMANAPAWIT, Thai Conservation Scientist, Climate Change Model Institute For the climate change model, it's already showed that we are increasingly the average temperature year after year, right? So, normally, this year beating the year before. But because of the El Nino effect, that leaves particular region hotter than normal. Here's how it's affecting everyday life. Residents of Eastern India experienced their hottest April on record. We are struggling because of the heat. Despite our efforts to keep cool by pouring water on ourselves and on the ground, nothing is working. We can feel steam rising from the ground. The country's weather department has predicted more heat wave days than normal between April and June. In the country's Kerala state, schools have closed. And elsewhere in India, the dry spells have caused frequent forest fires. In neighboring Bangladesh, these Rohingya refugees are trying to keep cool in any way they can. This heat is unbearable, especially in our tarp-made homes. During the daytime, it has been difficult to stay inside, as the tarp soaks in the heat. Schools have been closed, and authorities are warning of forest fires, heat stroke and dehydration. Local government workers in Manila, Philippines, rolled out a free mobile shower to help people through the heat wave. We are doing this program to help with the heat that our citizens are experiencing this dry season. Some people also experience water shortages, and they cannot take a bath, so this program helps give free showers and alleviate the heat for this dry weather. Due to the heat and lack of rain, a receding dam here in the northern rice-producing province of Nueva Ecija has revealed the ruins of a centuries-old town. This farmer north of Manila says the rising temperatures have significantly affected his crops. When the heat is very extreme, we can't produce good quality fruits and vegetables. What is the effect of the heat? Farmers have to suffer a loss from low prices because of the poor quality. The country has also suspended classes, and warned people to take shelter and avoid prolonged exposure outdoors due to the possibility of heat stroke. Schools in Cambodia's capital started to cut classes by a couple of hours to make the day more bearable for students. When the weather is so hot, it gives me a headache, and I have difficulty staying to finish the class. Experts worry about what it will mean for education and test scores. South of Phnom Penh, at the Cambodian Wildlife Rescue Centre, workers constructed a new water pond to keep their elephants cool. When I feel hot, I think of my elephant, too, because animals here are in the enclosure, not living in the wild. Animals living in the wild, they can run to find water. But these animals here are in the enclosure, so we must think of their needs of water. Conservation scientist Manipowit says the region's extreme heat is a bad sign of things to come. An uninhabitable earth pattern is coming, you know, because we might not be familiar with that. We think that we are fine with the hot weather, but now with the temperature, the heat wave, the intensity of the long period of hot weather, I think we have to make sure that people know about the risk as well.

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Climate Crisis