An unusual heat wave hit the region last week, with the mercury reaching 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), forcing thousands of schools to stay indoors.
The Philippines announced a two-day suspension of private classes in all public schools on Sunday after a record day in the capital, Manila.
In Thailand, where at least 30 people have died in a heatwave this year, the meteorological department warned of “severe conditions” after temperatures in the northern province soared to 44.1C (111.4F) on Saturday.
Meteorologists in Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, India and Bangladesh have warned that temperatures could exceed 40C in the coming days.
San Inin, a 39-year-old cashier in Onangon, Myanmar, said: “I don’t dare go out during the day. I’m afraid it will be hot.”
She said she went to the park with her husband and four-year-old son at night to escape the heat of her fourth-floor apartment.
“This is the only place where we can escape the heat from our neighbors.”
Global temperatures hit record highs last year, and the United Nations Meteorological Agency said Tuesday that Asia is warming faster.
Weather watchers said last week that temperatures in Myanmar were 3-4C above the April average.
On Sunday, the National Weather Service predicted temperatures in central Mandalay could reach 43C.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Water and Meteorology warned that temperatures could reach 43C in parts of the country next week, while the Ministry of Health advised people to monitor their health during “climate change-related hot weather”.
High temperatures are expected in Vietnam during the five-day national holiday, with temperatures reaching 41C in the north.
Observers there say it will be hot until the end of April, with cooler conditions expected in May.
The Indian Meteorological Department on Saturday said heatwave conditions will continue in several states over the weekend, with temperatures reaching 44C in some places.
“I have never seen this heat before,” 37-year-old advertising professional Anant Nadiger told AFP from Bengaluru.
The world’s largest democracy saw millions of voters queue in hot weather on Friday for six weeks of general elections.
The Election Commission of India said it has formed a task force to examine the impact of heat waves and humidity before each round of polls.
“I went to school with my 13-year-old daughter. She was happy that the school was open. But I was tense,” said Bagti Begum, whose daughter attends a public school in Dhaka.
“It’s very hot,” he told AFP. He was hot with sweat. I hope you are not sick. “
The suspension of private classes in the Philippines comes after Manila witnessed scorching temperatures and jeepney drivers planned a nationwide strike on Monday and Tuesday.
The capital’s temperature reached a record high of 38.8C (101.8F) on Saturday, with a heat index of 45C, according to the National Weather Service.
The heat index measures how hot the air feels, taking into account humidity.
Most schools in the Philippines do not have air conditioning, and students can suffocate in overcrowded classrooms.
The hot weather continued on Sunday, with many people heading to malls and swimming pools to relax.
March, April and May are usually the hottest and driest months of the year in the region, but conditions have worsened this year due to the El Nino weather phenomenon.
“Except for Metro Manila, all parts of the country are expected to be warmer until the second week of May,” state meteorologist Glaiza Escullar told AFP.
