南・東南アジアで記録的暑さ　「雨乞い」も

【バンコクＡＦＰ＝時事】南アジアから東南アジアにかけて、記録的な暑さに見舞われている。バングラデシュでは先週、約６０年ぶりの高温を記録。インドでは少なくとも１３人、タイでは２人が熱中症で死亡したもようだ。（写真はインド・ニューデリーで、暑さをしのぐため布で顔を覆う人。）
　タイの首都バンコクの中心にあるルンピニ公園の近くで日傘をさしていたミカコ・ニコルズさんは「年々暑くなっている」と語った。バンコクには５年滞在しているが、今年が最も暑く、屋内や日陰にいるよう心掛けているという。
　国連の気候変動に関する政府間パネルは最近の報告書で、「地球温暖化が進行するにつれ、同時多発的に危険が高まる」と警告した。
　タイ気象局は１９日、ターク県で気温４４．６度を記録したと発表。酷暑は来週まで続くと予測している。タイでは例年、雨期前が１年で最も暑いが、今年は特に厳しい暑さが続いている。
　国際的な気候政策研究機関「クライメート・アナリティックス」の地域リーダー、ファハド・サイード氏は「タイ、中国、南アジアにおける今年の記録的な暑さは、長期変化傾向に明らかに表れており、今後数年にわたって公衆衛生上の問題を引き起こす可能性がある」と語った。
　同氏は「猛暑で最も打撃を受けるのは貧困層だ」と指摘。「冷房を使えなかったり、適切な日よけができなかったりする人々にとっては、生命にもかかわりかねない」と危惧する。
　ミャンマーのヤンゴンでは、タクシー運転手（４２）が「暑すぎて日中は運転できない」と嘆いた。
　■雨乞いの祈り
　１９６０年代以来の暑さとなる４０．６度に達したバングラデシュの首都ダッカでは今週、数百人が集まって雨乞いの祈りをささげた。低地国のバングラデシュは気候変動の影響を強く受けており、例年にない異常降雨や洪水にも見舞われている。
　隣国インド西部のムンバイ近郊では１６日、屋外で行われた政府主催の授賞式で少なくとも１３人が熱中症のため死亡した。気象当局は、一部地域では気温が平年を３～４度上回る状態が続いているとしている。
　北東部アッサム州グワハティに住む主婦、ウルミラ・ダスさんは、用心のため子どもを学校に行かせていないと話した。「毎年この地方では３月中旬から雨が降るのに、今年は降っていない。一大事だ」
　商品の配達員は、暑さが厳しくて「移動するのも、商品を届けるのもやっとだ」と言う。「こんな天気はここ最近、経験した記憶がない」【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/04/20-16:31）

Sweltering under a blistering sun, people across South and Southeast Asia have been taking cover beneath any shelter they can find as they pray for cooling rains with record temperatures hitting the region.
Bangladesh saw its highest temperature for almost 60 years in the past week, while in India at least 13 people died from heatstroke along with two in Thailand, according to local media.
It's hotter and hotter every year, said Mikako Nicholls, shielding herself from the blazing rays with an umbrella near Bangkok's central Lumpini Park on Wednesday.
Scientists say global warming is exacerbating adverse weather, with a recent report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warning that every increment of global warming will intensify multiple and concurrent hazards.
Nicholls said Bangkok's warmer spell was the hottest she had experienced in five years in the capital, and she was trying to stay indoors or in the shade.
Thailand's Meteorological Department said Wednesday that temperatures hit a record-equalling 44.6 degrees Celsius (112 Fahrenheit) in the western province of Tak on April 15, warning that the baking weather would continue into next week.
It's possible that this year's heat might have been exacerbated due to human actions, said deputy director-general Thanasit Iamananchai.
The kingdom typically endures a spell of hotter weather preceding the rainy season, but the sun has shown an extra intensity this time around.
This year's record heat in Thailand, China and South Asia is a clear climate trend and will cause public health challenges for years to come, said scientist Fahad Saeed, regional lead for climate policy institute Climate Analytics.
He warned that soaring temperatures were a result of climate change -- and that the impact on vulnerable populations would be dire.
The extreme heat that we've witnessed over the last few days will hit the poor the hardest, said Saeed, based in Pakistan.
It may even be life threatening for those without access to cooling or adequate shelter.
A similar story played out in Myanmar where Ko Thet Aung, a taxi driver in the country's commercial capital Yangon, said the heat was worse than in previous years.
I can't drive if the temperature is too hot during the day, said the 42-year-old.
- 'Prayers for rain' -
In Bangladesh hundreds gathered in the capital Dhaka this week to pray for rain after temperatures hit 40.6 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit) -- the highest recorded since the 1960s.
They held prayers for rain. They also held prayers for easing the temperature and protection from the heatwave, local police chief Abul Kalam Azad told AFP.
The low-lying country is being dramatically impacted by climate change, enduring devastating flooding and ever-more erratic rainfall.
Neighbouring India saw at least 13 people die from heatstroke at an awards event held outside in the west of the country on Sunday.
It came as the nation's weather authority said parts of northern and eastern India were experiencing temperatures roughly three to four degrees above normal.
Urmila Das, a housewife in the northwestern city of Guwahati, said her family were suffering under the extreme conditions.
We are not used to this kind of heat, the 42-year-old said, adding that she had not sent her children to school as a precaution.
Normally, we have rains in this part of the region from mid-March but there is no rain this year. It is very difficult.
Contract labourer Sumu Bezbaruah, who works outside mostly delivering supplies to shops, said the heat was overwhelming.
It has become very difficult to travel and deliver the goods, he said.
I do not remember seeing this kind of weather in the recent past.
burs/axn