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Heat Waves Stifle Puerto Rico, South Asia; Bangladesh Closes Schools Amid Ongoing Power Cuts

HeadlineJun 07, 2023

Record-breaking heat waves continue to plague much of the planet. The heat index in Puerto Rico reached 125 degrees Fahrenheit this week as the island is hit by the combined effects of a heat dome, El Niño and climate change.

Meanwhile, many Asian countries are sweltering under a prolonged heat wave, including Bangladesh, where elementary schools were shuttered this week, and residents are dealing with frequent power cut outages as temperatures topped 105 degrees. Many workers are still forced to spend hours outdoors with no relief.

Mohammad Sultan: “The water shortage and the heat are suffocating us. Not a leaf is moving anywhere. There’s no shade. It is becoming tough to pull a rickshaw. Very difficult.”

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