Death toll rises as Southeast Asia grapples with a severe heatwave, power demand reaches record level

Bangkok issued extreme heat warnings last week as the heat index reached “very dangerous” levels. Government data indicates that about 30 people have died from high temperatures in Thailand this year, compared to 37 heat-related deaths in all of 2023.

In Thailand, power demand surged to a record 36,356 megawatts late Saturday, according to the Ministry of Energy. The northern and northeastern regions of the country are experiencing extreme heat, with temperatures reaching as high as 44°C (111.2°F) in some areas on Sunday.