PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times): As Cambodia swelters under one of the most extreme heatwaves in recent years – with temperatures expected to reach 42 °C this weekend, the resources ministry announced that it will be the highest seen in the country in 170 years.
Chan Yutha, Spokesman and Secretary of State of the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology on Friday afternoon stated that the maximum temperatures in Cambodia may reach 42 °C and it may be as soon as this Saturday.
Chan added that temperatures are the highest recorded for around 170 years.
However, Chan says that temperatures will start to drop in early May.
Experts have also predicted a higher than usual rainfall in May.
Meanwhile in Cambodia’s neighbour Thailand, a warning was issued after at least 30 people have died in the heatwave.
Bangkok authorities issued a heat warning as the temperature index (a measure of temperature, including humidity, wind speed and other factors) is expected to rise above 52 degrees Celsius as temperatures in the Thai capital reached 40.1 degrees Celsius on the 24th of April, witn similar levels being predicted for the next few days.
According to the Thai Ministry of Health on Wednesday night, at least 30 people died from heatstroke between January 1 and April 17, 2024 compared to the whole of 2023 with 37 deaths.
April is usually the hottest time of the year, in South-East Asia.
However, the temperature situation this year is strongly influenced by El Nino weather.
In 2023, a record-breaking global warming was observed, with the United Nations Meteorological and Meteorological Agency saying Asia was experiencing particularly rapid warming. - Khmer Times
