Air-Conditioning Is in Short Supply as Asia Swelters

NYTIMES | Francesca Regalado, Muktita Suhartono, Saif Hasnat

South and Southeast Asia are experiencing an intense heat wave, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit, exacerbated by an energy crunch linked to the ongoing war in Iran. This crisis has led to widespread restrictions on air conditioning and electricity use across the region, impacting millions in countries like Bangladesh, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. These nations, heavily reliant on imported Middle Eastern oil and gas, are vulnerable to price shocks and supply disruptions caused by the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and the United States. Governments have implemented measures such as setting thermostats no lower than 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit), advising lighter fabrics, declaring four-day public sector workweeks, and instituting unannounced blackouts for over 10 hours daily in rural Bangladesh. Citizens adapt using mini electric fans, frequent showers, and seeking relief in cooled public spaces. The World Health Organization warns that extreme heat and humidity can cause fatal heatstroke and worsen diseases, with studies suggesting parts of Asia could regularly approach "wet-bulb temperatures" later this century, potentially leading to heat-related deaths rivaling major diseases.

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