DHAKA, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Dangerously high temperatures are being recorded in various parts of the Asia Pacific region, such as Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Vietnam and more, an international relief agency said Wednesday.
According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the intense heat coupled with poor air quality has devastated livelihoods and endangered the health of millions. There has already been a sharp increase in cardiovascular and respiratory infections, and deaths, said the IFRC in a statement.
Although sporadic rainfall in several parts of the region has cooled down temperatures and negated some of the pollution, this has not caused a significant reduction in the overall intensity of the heat and humidity, said the agency. Therefore, it said, the challenging situations on the ground may remain unchanged in the coming weeks.
Like elsewhere in Asia, the unusual heatwave has gripped many parts of Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka, as the country enters the height of summer.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the maximum temperature in the country was recorded at 37.6 degrees Celsius in western Rajshahi district on Tuesday. ■
