2024 Southeast Asia heat wave

Since April 2024, several Southeast Asian countries have experienced recording breaking temperatures, which have left several people dead.

By country

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.

Laos

Laos reached a new all-time record in Luang Prabang, where a temperature of 42.7°C (109°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 to 43°C from 25 April to 28 April.

Malaysia

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.

Myanmar

Since the start of April 2024, a Yangon charity has treated at least 100 people for heat-related injuries. Temperatures hit 47°C in Chauk Township in Mandalay Region, 45°C in Nyaung-U, and 44°C 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 to 51°C. On April 28, a heat index of 53°C 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 localized 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, favoring 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, 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.