Climate threat The heat wave in Asia

 

A woman tries to take shelter with the help of an umbrella. Sakchai Lalit / AP  

 

Climate threat The heat wave in Asia  

Report: May become ten times more common with heat waves

 

The heat wave that has tightened its grip on Southeast Asia since April is described as "the most brutal never-ending heat wave ever", writes CNN.  

 

The heat wave would have been "impossible" without climate change created by humans, scientists write in a report from World Weather Attribution. If global warming continues at the same rate, this type of heat wave - which previously occurred every 200 years - will become ten times more common. 

 

 - When the atmosphere gets warmer, its ability to hold moisture becomes higher and therefore the risk of humid heat waves also increases, says report author Mariam Zachariah.  

 

The heat wave has caused great devastation in Southeast Asia. On June 1, the record for the hottest June day in Vietnam was broken when 43.8 degrees were measured.  

 

Illustration image. Fruit vendor in Hanoi. Hau Dinh / AP  

 

The heat wave in Asia Workers hard hit: "Can't afford to stop driving"  

 

For all of Vietnam's workers, it is basically impossible to avoid the extreme heat wave that has tightened its grip on the country. 42-year-old Phong starts his working day at 5 in the morning and then drives twelve hours a day with few breaks. 

 

To cope with the heat, he has equipped himself with a hat, wet wipes and several bottles of water. 

 

- If I get heatstroke, I would have to stop driving to recover. But I can't afford that, he tells CNN.  

 

The average temperature in Hanoi in May was 32 degrees. On June 1, the record for the hottest June day in Vietnam was broken when 43.8 degrees were measured.