Cambodia urges precautions in hot weather, especially for elderly, children

The Cambodia's Health Ministry said Tuesday that the current hot weather poses health risks to the people, calling on them, especially the elderly and children, to be extra vigilant over their health.

Temperatures are as high as 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit) in some provinces in the country on Tuesday.

The health ministry said in a statement that high temperatures could cause heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat stroke, diarrhea, stress, skin burns, headache, breathing difficulty, dizziness, or fainting.

To avoid death or brain damages due to heat waves, people should stay indoors when temperatures soar, or wear proper hats and loose clothes, the statement said, adding that the more water or juice they drink, the better they will be.

"All people, especially the elderly and children, should pay high attention to their health when the weather becomes very hot," Health Minister Mam Bunheng said in the statement.

"It is very important to prevent yourselves from heat stroke because this can cost life."

He also appealed to people not to stay under the sunlight for long time.

Keo Vy, spokesman for the National Center for Disaster Management, said on Monday that a 45-year-old female elephant-used to carry tourists in the Angkor Archaeological Park in northwestern Siem Reap province-collapsed and died on Friday last week due to high temperatures.

However, the heat wave has not yet claimed any human life, he said.

According to the spokesman, Cambodia is being hit the worst by drought in 40 years and some 18 out of the kingdom's 25 cities and provinces are facing severe water shortages.

"Wells and ponds have dried up in some districts in 18 provinces and hundreds of thousands of people are much in need of water," he told Xinhua.

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday ordered authorities and armed forces to focus mainly on distributing water to drought-stricken villagers.

"This year is considered as the disaster year," he said during an inauguration ceremony of a new road in northwestern Banteay Meanchey province. "As the head of the government, I announce today the launch of a nationwide water distribution campaign." Enditem