Hot summer nights could be bigger killers than daytime scorchers, Hong Kong researchers say
Academics warn that people have a lower level of risk preparedness against the heat at night than in the day as they are invariably sleeping, sometimes in poor conditions
Hot and prolonged summer nights in Hong Kong’s densely built-up urban areas could potentially be more fatal than daytime scorchers, a new statistical study has found.
An academic involved with a study on the issue also warned that at the current pace of urban development – coupled with rising global temperatures – the city would heat up to “unbearable levels” by 2050.
Hong Kong swelters under hottest ‘Great Heat’ day in 44 years, Observatory says
Researchers from the Polytechnic and Chinese universitiesanalysed data from 284,477 mortality records and the underlying causes of death from 2007 to 2014 and paired them with official records of “hot nights” and “very hot days”.
Taking five consecutive “hot nights” and five consecutive “very hot days”, the researchers found there were 7 to 8 per cent more deaths from cardiovascular or respiratory diseases or harmful exposure during the hot nights.
Deaths from traffic accidents were excluded.
