A driver of a horse-drawn carriage gives water to his horse as they takes shelter under a tree along a road in Manila on April 24, 2024, as extreme heat affected the country. Extreme heat scorched the Philippines on April 24, forcing schools in some areas to suspend in-person classes and prompting warnings for people to limit the amount of time spent outdoors.
Climate change has exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events that profoundly impact societies, economies, and most importantly, human lives, she said. Last year, the continent saw 79 water hazard-related disasters, with over 80 percent linked to floods and storms, resulting in over 2,000 fatalities and affecting nine million people directly, according to the Emergency Events Database.
The Arakan Mountains in Myanmar and the lower course of the Mekong River areas have also seen less rainfall than usual, while Southwest China suffered from a drought, with below-normal precipitation levels nearly every month of 2023.