People in Myanmar are grappling with heatwave that has battered the country with the temperatures in April shattering the records in the country, according to Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
In April this year, over ten regions in Myanmar saw their daily temperatures surpassing the previous records documented by local meteorological stations, official meteorological data showed.
Many areas in central Myanmar's Magway and Mandalay regions have frequently appeared on the global list of hottest places. The record-shattering heatwave has triggers troubles for people's daily lives in the country, with reports of multiple cases of individuals fainting even dying from heatstroke across the country.
"It is too hot, and it's making me really irritable. I'm really worried about the health of the elderly and children in my family," said a Yangon resident.
"The weather of this year is hotter than usual, affecting our daily lives and work. With frequent power outages, things have gotten worse. I have no choice but to use wet blankets to cover the roof and floor for cooling. Without electricity, I also need to find batteries for the electric fans," said another Yangon resident.
According to the meteorological department, Myanmar will experience continued high temperatures until mid to late May due to the El Nino phenomenon. In addition, some areas in the countries will face abnormal rainfalls, frequent storms, droughts and other extreme weather conditions.
People in Myanmar struggling with record-shattering heatwave
People in Myanmar struggling with record-shattering heatwave
People in Myanmar struggling with record-shattering heatwave
People in Myanmar struggling with record-shattering heatwave
The restricted rescue capacity of the local civil defense department due to the war has compelled local residents to rescue their loved ones trapped beneath the debris with their bare hands in Zeitoun Neighborhood in the south of Gaza City.
Israeli military operations in Gaza led to widespread destruction of buildings and a significant rise in civilian casualties.
In Zeitoun, no intact buildings remain in sight. Amidst the wreckage, survivors painstakingly comb through ruined buildings and debris, desperately searching for their lost homes and families.
The continuous bombs from the Israeli army impeded the evacuation of local people.
"We couldn't contact my child's family or his neighbors at all. After the situation calmed down, we came here and tried to rescue them from the ruins, but we couldn't make it. Today, we brought some simple tools, but only one child was rescued. We couldn't save the rest because the situation here is too difficult," said a local resident.
Israeli army's prolonged military operations weakened Gaza's civil defense, resulting in restricted capabilities. A total of 69 rescue workers died in Israeli attacks by far.
The lack of fuel recently further hampers civil defense and rescue efforts.
"Due to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, there is currently an obvious shortage of civil defense personnel. The biggest problem we face is the lack of equipment, which prevents us from rescuing missing people under the ruins. The Israeli army usually bombs the roofs of buildings (leading to building collapse), which requires professional large machines and equipment such as trucks and excavators," said Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for the Civil Defense Service in the Gaza Strip.
With no other option, some survivors had to save their family members and friends by their own hands.
"Young people volunteer for rescue, using the simplest tools such as hoes, axes and pliers. We can at least lift out the bodies, including women and children, so that their families can identify and bury them," said another local resident.
People in Gaza exhaust efforts in rescuing family members in Israel-ruined buildings
People in Gaza exhaust efforts in rescuing family members in Israel-ruined buildings
