India and other parts of Asia continue with record temperatures amid heatwave

Several Asian countries, most notably India, continue to grapple with record-breaking temperatures as an intense heatwave grips the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that maximum temperatures ranged from 43 to 47 degrees Celsius across large parts of the northwest and central India, including the capital, New Delhi.

The highest temperature recorded on Thursday was in Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, where the mercury soared to a devastating 48.2 degrees Celsius. In other parts of the country, thermometers hovered between 40 and 43 degrees. In response to the extreme conditions, India's Ministry of Health issued an alert on social media, emphasizing the increasing frequency of such heat events due to global warming.

Authorities are urging the public to take extreme precautions, recommending ample hydration, wearing light-colored clothing, taking frequent breaks, and immediately moving anyone affected by heatstroke to a cool environment. The health ministry noted that these phenomena are becoming more frequent due to rising global temperatures.

Elsewhere in Asia, Vietnam is experiencing a "maximum phase of an intense heatwave," with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in many locations. Hanoi recorded its second-highest temperature for May at 41.1 degrees, while other weather stations in the north also broke or matched their monthly records. Taiwan's capital, Taipei, registered its highest temperature since measurements began in 1896, reaching 38.3 degrees. Hong Kong recorded its highest temperature of the year so far at 33.7 degrees, with forecasts predicting extreme heat up to 37 degrees. The Philippines is also under extreme heat warnings, with temperatures potentially reaching 47 degrees Celsius in over 50 regions.