Extreme hot weather grills Myanmar

May 10, 2010

Myanmar people have been suffering from the impact of extreme hot weather this summer in terms of diseases, business and water shortage in various part of the country.

Summer season in Myanmar lasts from March to May, and April represents the hottest month.

As a rare phenomena in several decades, this year is experiencing excessive heat strike, with the day temperatures in central Myanmar reaching a record high of between 43 and 45 degree Celsius, 5 to 6 degree Celsius above April average maximum temperature.

The Myanmar authorities have stopped traders in the country from exporting rice in order to reserve for domestic demand due to less production.

Meanwhile, thousands of fish, bred in ponds in the country's southwestern Ayeyawaddy division, died of heat during the current summer season.

There was even worse case that all 100,000 fishes died in a single day in Twantay township, Yangon division.

Fish breeders feared that such cases would continue as long as there is no rainfall.

The excessively high temperature also led to water shortage in many villages in the country.

As an alternative, the villagers are digging up wells near the dry ponds to get water.

The heat wave has also spred flu and skin allergy and the lack of electricity and water intensified the suffering.

There was news report about a sudden death of a taxi driver in Yangon when heat struck him inside the car.

The authorities have advised people to remain indoor in the day time to prevent from exposure to excessive heat.

Amid the extreme hot weather, Myanmar's cyclone-ravaged Ayeyawaddy division has enjoyed a rare heavy rainfall last Thursday.

In the Ayeyawaddy delta, which was destroyed by deadly cyclone Nargis in May 2008, over 180,000 people are now suffering from fresh water shortage due to the summer heat.

Source: Xinhua