A radical decision was made by the authorities of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, which is suffering from heat: to turn off the city’s lights.

Parks in the city of eight million people will be plunged into darkness from 11pm, while two-thirds of the street lights will go out at the same time.

Scientists have warned that climate change is intensifying extreme weather events such as heat waves.

At the beginning of May, Vietnam recorded the highest temperature in its history (44.1 degrees Celsius) breaking the previous record set in 2019.

The country was hit by a heatwave in both April and late May, and state electricity company EVN has warned that the huge consumption of air conditioners and fans has put a strain on the national power system.

The problem is compounded by severe drought in northern Vietnam, which means water levels in hydroelectric dams are 30% to 40% below normal.

“I’m worried about the energy shortages, which may affect us severely during the hot summer,” says Hanoi resident Do Tung Duong as he walks through the city center.

Another resident, Vu Thi Hoa, told AFP she agreed with the measure to cut off public electricity.

“We should turn off non-essential electrical equipment, especially lights. You feel the heat more if there are too many lights on. We need the power for the fans and air conditioners. It would be horrible if we had blackouts,” he adds.

Hanoi’s public power company, HAPULICO, reduced street lighting in response to EVN’s calls for energy savings.

Lights in public spaces come on half an hour later than usual and turn off half an hour earlier.

Although some reductions in street electrification are made every year, “this year it is in a wider area covering 70% of the city’s public electrification system,” HAPULICO deputy director Truong Kien told local media.

The company even announced that these cuts will likely last until the end of August.