Record heatwave in Thailand kills 61 people since start of 2024, more than all of 2023
- The Thai health ministry said on Friday that 61 people have died from heatstroke since the beginning of 2024, compared with 37 in all of 2023.
- A wave of exceptionally hot weather blasted Thailand in recent weeks, prompting authorities to issue warnings about scorching hot weather on a near-daily basis
Heatstroke has killed 61 people in Thailand so far this year, more than in all of 2023, the health ministry said on Friday after weeks of scorching weather across the region.
A wave of exceptionally hot weather blasted Thailand in recent weeks, prompting authorities to issue warnings about scorching hot weather on a near-daily basis.
The health ministry said Friday that 61 people have died from heatstroke since the beginning of 2024, compared with 37 in all of 2023.
Thailand’s northeast – the agricultural heartland – saw the highest number of deaths, the ministry said.
Scientists have long warned human-induced climate change will produce more frequent, longer and more intense heatwaves.
While the El Nino phenomenon is helping drive this year’s exceptionally warm weather, Asia is also warming faster than the global average, according to the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization.