2024 Southeast Asia heat wave

Since April 2024, several Southeast Asian countries have experienced record-breaking temperatures which have left several people dead. Heat indices reached as high as 53 °C (127 °F) in Iba, in the Philippines. In some countries the high heat created excessive energy demand. Outdoor activities were discouraged in Laos, and some schools in the Philippines were closed. In Myanmar, the heatwave exacerbated the crisis caused by the ongoing civil war.

By country

Cambodia

The country recorded temperature ranging from 39 °C (102 °F) to 41 °C (106 °F) which expected to rise further with capital Phnom Penh hit particular hard. Due to the extreme hot weather ever recorded in about 170 years, public schools hours were reduced two hours earlier to prevent heat-related illness. In late April, the hot weather caused by the heat wave partly contributed to an ammo explosion that destroyed a military warehouse, barracks, office building, damaging trucks and 25 homes including the lives of 20 Cambodian soldiers in Kampong Speu.

Indonesia

The warmer weather had caused an increase of dengue fever infections in the country. By the week of 8 April, there were 475 deaths from dengue infections compared to 170 deaths in the same period in 2023. In the same time span, there were 62,001 infections, as compared to 22,551 in the same period in 2023. This triggered the Ministry of Health to issue a warning to tourists visiting Bali, requesting them to be vaccinated. The Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) has categorically identified the hot weather as "seasonal transition" rather than "heat wave" since 76% of the country territory still experiencing rain, with the highest temperature recorded in Palu, Central Sulawesi at 37.8 °C (100.0 °F).

Laos

Laos reached a new all-time record in Luang Prabang, where a temperature of 42.7 °C (108.9 °F) was recorded on 16 April 2024. The weather bureau warned against outdoor activities, with most areas in the countries forecasted to reach 40 °C (104 °F) to 43 °C (109 °F) from 25 to 28 April.

Malaysia

As of 4 April, level 2 heatwaves had been declared in Kelantan and Pahang, while level 1 heatwaves were declared in Johor, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak, and Terengganu. Drought conditions were affecting 20,000 thousand around different states in the country with farmers are the most affected while 58,080 families in 12 districts of Sabah were affected with Papar District have been declared as drought disaster area since early March. The drought exacerbated by heat wave resulting a severe water crisis for the district with local state government and various agencies responded by deploying assets and logistics to supply waters to affected families. The federal government through its National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) in collaboration with the country Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and other local agencies carried out three-days cloud seeding operation in water catchment areas of Papar, Lahad Datu, and Tawau districts around Sabah to increase river water levels to meet domestic needs. As of 14 April, there have been 45 heat-related illness cases reported: 33 cases of heat exhaustion, 11 cases of heatstroke, and one case of heat cramp recorded nationwide in the country. Two deaths due to heat-related illness recorded in the state of Pahang and Kelantan.

Myanmar

Since the start of April 2024, a Yangon charity has treated at least 100 people for heat-related injuries. Temperatures hit 47 °C (117 °F) in Chauk Township in Mandalay Region, 45 °C (113 °F) in Nyaung-U, and 44 °C (111 °F) in Myingyan, and Minbu and Sinphyukyun in Magway Region. In Sagaing Region, civilians who have been displaced by the ongoing civil war were doubly impacted, with Mone Hla villagers in Khin-U Township reporting health problems and water shortages since their homes were torched by junta soldiers on 28 March. The rolling power blackout left civilians unable to use electric appliances to cool themselves, with people resorting under the shades of trees in parks in the afternoon. According to Radio Free Asia, through funeral services and health officials in some of the country's hottest cities, at least 1,473 people died in Myanmar from heat-related causes in April alone.

Philippines

As of 18 April, authorities had logged 34 heat-related illnesses. The heat index in several areas rose to levels of 42 °C (108 °F) to 51 °C (124 °F). On 28 April, a heat index of 53 °C (127 °F) was recorded in Iba, Zambales, the highest in the country so far in 2024. Due to El Niño season in the Philippines, forecasters predicted that dangerous heat indices in at least 32 areas across the country would continue until the middle of May. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines advised the risk of several localised brownouts, with five power grids in Luzon and Visayas experiencing outages due to failure to meet demand.

The Department of Labor and Employment recommended that employers allow their workers to work from home, while in-person attendance at public schools was suspended on 29 and 30 April, favouring long-distance learning setups as classrooms in public schools are often crowded and poorly ventilated. Resorts became fully booked and several shopping malls saw large crowds of people who sought to cool themselves amid the heat.

On 7 May, the PAGASA declared that worst of the record-high temperatures was over, expecting thunderstorms to hit the country by the second half of May, and for La Niña to prevail by June, allowing Angat Dam, which supplies water to Metro Manila and nearby provinces, to slowly recover.

Thailand

As of 28 April, there have been 30 heat-related deaths since the beginning of the year, as compared to 37 deaths in the whole of 2023. The temperature has thus far caused a record demand of electricity as people seek to cool themselves. Water levels at Lam Takhong Dam and Lam Mun river in Nakhon Ratchasima dropped sharply as drought and extreme heat caused the main water sources to run dry, sparking fears of water shortage. Inspections at chemical warehouses were stepped after a series of fires and fears of the stored chemicals being heat sensitive.

Vietnam

The northwestern region of Điện Biên and Sơn La including localities from Nghệ An to Quảng Ngãi experienced high temperatures from 39 °C (102 °F) to 40 °C (104 °F). Most southern Vietnam including Ho Chi Minh City endured the longest heat wave in 30 years with farmers in the Mekong Delta facing decreased crop yields. In the province of Đồng Nai, mass fish deaths blanketed the entire view of a 300-hectare reservoir due to dwindling water levels caused by the heat wave.