The record heatwaves that hit large parts of south and southeast Asia in April were “30 times more likely” to occur as a result of human-induced climate change, an international team of scientists said today.

In the area temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius were recorded last month, with the Bangladesh to experience the warmest such period in the last 50 years, the Thailand to record temperature record 45° Celsius and Laos to exceed 42°, resulting in extensive damage to infrastructure and power outages as well as an increase in heat stroke incidents.

A team of scientists at World Weather Attribution studied heat and humidity levels in parts of India and Bangladesh, as well as Thailand and Laos, and concluded that they were at least 2°C warmer due to climate change.

Once-in-a-century heatwaves with high humidity in Bangladesh and India are now expected every five years, while heatwaves in Thailand and Laos would be “virtually impossible” without climate change, according to scientists.

“Heat heat is not a natural thing”, said Chaga Vadanapouti, a team member from Chiang Mai University in Thailand, at a press briefing today. “Unless we take drastic measures to reduce emissions, heat events like this will continue to become more common.” he stated.

The study showed that in some parts of the region the estimated heat index – which takes humidity into account – is close to the “extremely dangerous” level of 54°C, creating significant health risks across south and south-east Asia.

While some parts of the region have drawn up “heat action plans” that call for emergency health services and water supplies or school closures, other areas are underprepared and have limited access to the resources they need to cope. extreme temperatures, the study said.

It remains unclear how many casualties April’s heatwaves have caused but extreme temperatures in India have caused at least 24,000 deaths since 1992, with 90% of the country’s land area in heatwave “danger zones”, academics said last month.