Vietnam Hits Record High of 44°C
"Worrying from the Perspective of Global Warming"
"If 'El Ni?o' Occurs This Year, Global Temperatures Will Rise"
Unprecedented heatwaves continue across Southeast Asian countries, with the highest temperatures in northern Vietnam exceeding 44 degrees Celsius.
On the 7th (local time), according to BBC and others, the Vietnam National Hydrometeorological Forecast Center reported that the temperature at Hoi Xuan Station in Thanh Hoa Province, northern Vietnam, reached 44.1 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. This surpassed the previous record high of 43.4 degrees recorded in Ha Tinh Province in north-central Vietnam on April 20, 2019.
Climate change expert Nguyen Huy Ngoc told AFP, "This is a very worrying record in terms of climate change and global warming," adding, "It is expected that this new record will be repeated multiple times, confirming that extreme climate models are becoming reality."
On the 23rd of last month, people wearing masks are riding motorcycles in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Many meteorologists anticipate frequent heatwaves and floods this year due to the influence of El Nino. El Nino is a phenomenon where rising sea surface temperatures cause abnormal weather patterns.
Earlier, some regions in Thailand experienced a so-called "monster heatwave" last month, with a perceived temperature reaching 54 degrees Celsius. Typically, April is the hottest month of the year in Thailand, with an average temperature around 37 degrees Celsius. Thai media pointed out that the abnormal temperatures are affecting not only citizens' health but also crop production and tourism revenue.
In northern India’s Prayagraj region, temperatures also soared up to 44.6 degrees Celsius, continuing the heatwave. Notably, on the 16th of last month in Maharashtra, India, at least 13 people died from heatstroke during an outdoor event attended by hundreds of thousands under the scorching sun. Additionally, Luang Prabang in Laos recorded 42.7 degrees Celsius last month, and Myanmar reached up to 45 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stated in a report on the 3rd that El Nino is expected to arrive in the second half of this year, increasing the likelihood of heatwaves, floods, and droughts worldwide. El Nino usually lasts for nearly a year, causing various weather anomalies along with rising global temperatures. The WMO warned that El Nino could cause global temperatures to reach record levels.
The report said, "Despite a temporary slowdown in global temperature rise due to La Nina over the past three years, we have experienced the warmest eight years on record," and forecasted, "When El Nino occurs, warming will accelerate, and global temperatures are likely to break records."
Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the WMO, emphasized, "While El Nino will end the influence of La Nina, it can trigger more extreme weather events," adding, "The United Nations needs to provide early warnings and responses to protect people's safety."
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