Global Courant 2023-05-16 15:30:00
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi said the government does not consider it necessary to declare a heat wave despite the country currently experiencing a period of hot weather.
Authorities are monitoring the situation and the government may reconsider if temperatures reach 40C, Mr Zahid said after chairing a meeting of the National Disaster Management Agency on Tuesday.
For now, cloud seeding is being conducted over watersheds for seven dams whose water levels are expected to drop, he said, adding that 101 tube wells have been installed in peat bogs for hard-to-reach areas.
Mr. Zahid, also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said hot weather conditions will continue until September and temperatures are expected to rise above 40°C in August.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) tweeted on Tuesday that four districts — Pasir Mas and Kuala Krai in Kelantan, Rompin in Pahang and Muar in Johor — have been issued a Level 1 heat wave warning.
According to MetMalaysia, a Level 1 alert is issued when the temperature at a location is between 35°C and 37°C for three consecutive days.
An orange alert, or heat wave alert level 2, is issued when the temperature is between 37°C and 40°C for three consecutive days.
The red alert, or extreme heat wave warning, occurs when the temperature is above 40°C for three consecutive days.
Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries are grappling with record temperatures as the heat wave that began in April continues to sweep through the region, following a pattern of increasing extreme weather caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
