BENGALURU (AP) – Sizzling heat across Asia and the Middle East in late April that echoed last year’s destructive swelter was made 45 times more likely in some parts of the continent because of human-caused climate change, a study on Tuesday found.
Scorching temperatures were felt across large swaths of Asia, with many parts of the continent experiencing temperatures well above 40 degrees Celsius (°C) several days in a row.
The study was released by the World Weather Attribution group of scientists, who use established climate models to quickly determine whether human-caused climate change played a part in extreme weather events around the world.
In the Philippines, scientists found the heat was so extreme it would have been impossible without human-caused climate change.
“People suffered and died when April temperatures soared in Asia,” said study author and climate scientist Friederike Otto at Imperial College in London.
At least 28 heat-related deaths were reported in Bangladesh, as well as five in India in April. Surges in heat deaths have also been reported in Thailand and the Philippines this year according to the study.
The heat also had a large impact on agriculture, causing crop damage and reduced yields, as well as on education, with schools closed in several countries, affecting thousands of students.
Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam broke records for their hottest April day, and the Philippines experienced its hottest night ever with a low of 29.8°C. In India, temperatures reached as high as 46°C.
The month was the hottest April on record globally and the 11th consecutive month in a row that broke the hottest month record.
Climate experts said extreme heat in South Asia is becoming more frequent and the study found that extreme temperatures are now about 0.85°C hotter in the region because of climate change. Internally displaced people, migrants and those in refugee camps were especially vulnerable to the searing temperatures, the study found.
“These findings in scientific terms are alarming,” said heat plans expert Aditya Valiathan Pillai at New Delhi-based think tank Sustainable Futures Collaborative.
“But for people on the ground living in precarious conditions, it could be absolutely deadly.”
Pillai said more awareness about heat risks, public and private investments to deal with increasing heat and more research on its impacts are all necessary to deal with future heat waves.
“I think heat is now among the foremost risks in terms of personal health for millions across the world as well as nations’ economic development,” he said.
