With temperatures predicted to rise as high as 40 degrees Celsius in the city over the upcoming Thingyan water festival, Yangon General Hospital is preparing for an influx of patients suffering from heat exhaustion.
“We [will] prepare special rooms and drugs for patients who are affected from high temperature in Thingyan which is in the time of El Niño,” Dr Khin Khin Htwe, who heads the hospital’s emergency department, told the Voice.
Usually, revelers celebrating Thingyan, which falls over 11-16th April this year, head to the streets to party on wooden stages and shower each other with water. This year, for-profit stages have been barred from the city center on account of expected water shortages.
An unusually strong El Niño has already caused drought in central Myanmar and is expected to continue impacting the country through the next few months.
In March, meteorologist Tun Lwin sounded alarm over hot weather during Thingyan, saying temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius in Yangon and 44 degrees Celsius in central Myanmar.
“Because of the extreme danger level of ultra-violet rays, people may have health problems if they stay outside for a long time without protection.”
A good reminder to cover up and stay hydrated, folks.
