Environment

Malaysia investigates 2 heat-related deaths

Bangkok, Apr 28 (EFE).- Malaysia is investigating the death of two children allegedly due to the intense heatwave affecting Southeast Asia, where temperatures have touched record levels for several weeks, state media reported Friday.

Kelantan state’s health department is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of death of two children who reportedly died of heat stroke this week in the region, the department’s director, Zaini Hussin, told Bernama news agency.

A 19-month-old girl and an 11-year-old boy died in the northern Malaysian state allegedly as a result of the heat wave that is gripping the Asian continent.

The girl, who went to a local hospital to receive treatment for symptoms such as vomiting, coughing and weakness, was discharged shortly after and died on Tuesday.

Her father, Ahmad Faris, told Bernama that the autopsy showed that the cause of death was heat stroke as her body was dehydrated and her lungs had shrunk.

This week, an 11-year-old boy also died in a health center in Kelantan as a result of severe dehydration caused by the intense temperatures.

The boy’s mother, Wanie, said the autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was heat stroke.

“The doctor said his kidneys and heart were ‘burnt’. It was empty inside; the water and blood in his body had ‘dried’ up,” she told local newspaper, The Star.

Asia has been experiencing a sweltering heat wave for several weeks with record temperatures, which have led to school closures, open-air classes and surges in energy use.

Experts have registered record temperatures at monitoring stations in several countries, including Thailand, Burma, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam, as well as China and other nations in South Asia.

Some countries, such as Thailand, have urged people to stay indoors to avoid getting sick, while others, such as the Philippines, have temporarily suspended in-person classes to protect the health of students. EFE

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