Extreme temperature hit Philippines and 'it is so hot, you can not breathe' .
Extreme heat scorched parts of South and Southeast Asia Wednesday, prompting schools across the Philippines to suspend classes, heat warnings in the Thai capital and worshippers in Bangladesh to pray for rain.
The high temperatures were recorded just a day after the United Nations said Asia was the region that suffered the most disasters from climate and weather hazards in 2023, with floods and storms the chief causes of casualties and economic losses.
Extensive scientific research has found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense.
"It's so hot you can't breathe," said Erlin Tumaron, 60, who works at a Philippine seaside resort in Cavite province, south of Manila, where the heat index reached 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday.
"It's surprising our pools are still empty. You would expect people to come and take a swim, but it seems they're reluctant to leave their homes because of the heat."
March, April and May are typically the hottest and driest months in the archipelago but conditions this year have been exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon.
The heat index was expected to reach the "danger" level of 42C (108F) or higher in at least 30 cities and municipalities on Wednesday, the state weather forecaster said.
The heat index measures what a temperature feels like, taking into account humidity.
The Philippine Department of Education, which oversees more than 47,600 schools, said nearly 6,700 schools suspended in-person classes on Wednesday.
There was also a 50 percent chance of the heat intensifying in the coming days, Ana Solis, chief climatologist at the state weather forecaster, told AFP.
She said people needed to limit the time they spent outdoors, drink plenty of water and take umbrellas and hats when going outdoors to guard against the "extreme heat".
The Philippines ranks among the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Source:AFP
菲律賓47攝氏度極端氣溫促使學校停課並發布高溫警告
馬尼拉（法新社）—週三，極端高溫燒焦了南亞和東南亞部分地區，導致菲律賓各地的學校停課，泰國首都發出高溫警告，孟加拉的信徒祈雨。
就在記錄高溫的前一天，聯合國表示亞洲是2023年遭受氣候和天氣災害最嚴重的地區，其中洪水和風暴是造成人員傷亡和經濟損失的主要原因。
廣泛的科學研究發現，氣候變遷正在導致熱浪變得更長、更頻繁、更強烈。
「熱得讓人無法呼吸，」60 歲的埃爾林·圖馬龍(Erlin Tumaron) 說，他在馬尼拉南部甲美地省的一個菲律賓海濱度假勝地工作，週二那裡的高溫指數達到了47 攝氏度（ 117 華氏度）。
「令人驚訝的是，我們的游泳池仍然是空的。你本以為人們會來游泳，但他們似乎因為天氣太熱而不願離開家。”
三月、四月和五月通常是群島最熱和最乾燥的月份，但今年的厄爾尼諾天氣現象加劇了情況。
該州天氣預報員表示，預計週三至少 30 個城市和直轄市的高溫指數將達到 42 攝氏度（108 華氏度）或更高的「危險」水平。
熱指數衡量的是溫度感覺，同時考慮了濕度。
負責監管 47,600 多所學校的菲律賓教育部表示，近 6,700 所學校週三暫停了面授課程。
該州天氣預報機構首席氣候學家安娜·索利斯告訴法新社，未來幾天炎熱天氣有 50% 的可能性會加劇。
她說，人們需要限制在戶外的時間，多喝水，外出時帶上雨傘和帽子，以防範「酷暑」。
菲律賓是最容易受到氣候變遷影響的國家之一。
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