VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City’ is being maltreated by scorching weather. City temperatures are up to 30oC in the morning and over 38oC at noon. The air is always stifling hot.

Instead of going to bed to rest for work the next morning, dozens of employees at Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone who live in hired rooms on Bui Van Ba road, went out to take in the air at 10pm, May 9.

A worker named Nam explained that they could not sleep in their small rooms, which were very hot. “We have to sit on the pavement until we fall asleep, and then return to our rooms,” Nam complained.

A group of students from the HCM City University of Culture, who also rent small rooms roofed by corrugated iron sheets, admit they are always sweaty even though their electric fans run at the highest speed and they take several baths a day.

“Each hour I go into the toilet to pour water on my head, but it is still very hot. We are boys so we can wear shorts and strip to the waist. What a pity for girls!” noted a student named Khai.

It is torture for people who must go out on the street, because the scorching sun rises around 7am and blazes until late afternoon. Women and even men have to wear masks and coats on the road. The delivery staff of a brewery firm revealed that they have never been tortured by hot weather like this. “My eyes are dazzled after 30 minutes of riding on the road,” asserted one staff member.

To avoid sunlight, at T-junctions, people stop under the shade of trees when traffic lights are red, even though the trees are dozens of meters from the light.

The heat wave has also made residents alter their eating habits. The owner of a rice restaurant lamented the hot weather, because it has quieted his restaurant business. Other restaurateurs observed that they spray water to cool down the air in their establishments, but people still don’t want to come out. Restaurants with air-conditioners still attract customers.

To avoid the heat, many people choose to stay in closed rooms with air conditioners the entire day or to go swimming in pools every morning and afternoon. Doctors warn that these methods, especially children, become sick.

Meteorologists predict that this summer will be longer than previous ones.

Saigon residents suffer in the hot weather:

PV