Thailand Reminds Its Citizens About Extreme Heat, Will Indonesia Participate?

JAKARTA - Thailand has finally issued a warning to its top citizens, including the capital Bangkok, to avoid leaving the house due to extreme heat.

Some countries in the Asian continent did report extreme heat this month. Even temperatures that break records are visible in some countries.

In Bangladesh and parts of India, extreme heat has caused a surge in electricity demand, causing power outages and shortages for millions of people.

In Bangkok's Bagna district, temperatures reached 42 degrees Celsius, while the hot index - which includes relative humidity and measures what the temperature is - hit a record 54 degrees Celsius, according to the meteorological department.

Authorities warned residents to avoid outdoor activity and be aware of the dangers of hot attacks.

"Sometimes, I take shelter in minimarkets 7-11... to avoid heat," said Amoren Supasert, 67, selling grilled chicken in Bangkok as quoted by Channel News Asia, Saturday, April 22.

Thailand's disaster prevention and mitigation department said the temperature would exceed 40 degrees Celsius in at least 28 provinces on Saturday.

The extreme heat has recently broken a record electricity consumption, with state consumption of more than 39,000 megawatts on April 6, surpassing the previous record of 32,000 megawatts in April last year, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said.