Chauk, Myanmar burns under the scorching sun, claiming the title of the world's hottest city for two consecutive days.
On April 8, it sweltered at a record-breaking 46.4 degrees Celsius (115.5 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous day's high of 45.2 degrees Celsius (113.3 degrees Fahrenheit). This scorching streak isn't limited to Chauk – Magway joins the fray, ranking 13th on April 9 with a scorching 43.7 degrees Celsius (110.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) confirmed these unprecedented temperatures, noting that Chauk shattered a 56-year record. The city's previous high stood at 47 degrees Celsius (116.6 degrees Fahrenheit), but it was eclipsed by the recent 47.4 degrees Celsius (117.3 degrees Fahrenheit) reading.
This heatwave isn't an isolated event. Maximiliano Herrera, a renowned climatologist, declared a historic heatwave gripping Southeast Asia. He highlighted the region's unusually early April scorchers, including a scorching 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit) recorded in Minbu, Myanmar.
Experts link this extreme heat to human-induced climate change and the ongoing El Nino weather phenomenon. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) previously reported Southeast Asia experiencing above-average temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) back in February. The region appears to be getting hotter and drier, posing significant challenges for the future.
