Workers struggle because of the heat.

"It's unbelievably hot."

According to Thanh Nien newspaper on May 17th, inside the makeshift shelters covered with tarpaulins in Duong Noi Ward (Ha Dong District, Hanoi ) - one of the areas with the highest concentration of laborers and construction workers in Hanoi - the temperature remained virtually unchanged compared to the outside. To avoid the heat, those inside had to constantly wipe their faces and hands with wet towels. No one could sleep all afternoon due to the oppressive heat.

Construction workers living in makeshift camps suffer from insomnia due to the heat.

Ms. Phung Thi Yen (58 years old, from Phu Yen District, Son La Province) said that normally, her shack houses about 13-14 people; however, due to the heat, only 3-4 people remain. Some have moved to a nearby unfinished house to escape the sun. "We women stay here, occasionally having meals. It's very hot in this house, but we have to put up with it," Ms. Yen said.

The woman from Son La province shared her story, saying that back home, despite working year-round, life was difficult because they only relied on rice farming and livestock. Seven years ago, when her youngest daughter started university, she moved to Hanoi to work as a construction assistant. After her daughter graduated, partly out of familiarity with the city and partly because there were no jobs available back home, she decided to stay in the capital to earn extra income.

"Every day, I earn about 300,000 dong, enough to cover my living expenses. This time, Hanoi is experiencing intense heat, making it unbearable. It's like an oven inside the makeshift shelter, and I can't sleep at night. It's tough, but I have to keep going for the sake of making a living," said Mrs. Yen.

Not far from Mrs. Yen's shack was the shack of Mr. Lang Van Quy (29 years old, from Nghia Dan District, Nghe An Province). Normally, five people lived in this shack, but because of the intense midday sun, four of them evacuated to find shady trees to rest under. Mr. Quy, however, crawled under the bed to escape the heat and guard his belongings.

The man shared that he had been working in construction for over 10 years, accustomed to the sun, wind, rain, cold, and makeshift conditions. However, under temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius, he couldn't get any sleep after strenuous work.

According to Mr. Quy, on hot days, he usually starts work from 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM and in the afternoon from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. "Out at the construction site, the heat is exhausting, and even the heat in the shack is unbearable. There's a fan, but I don't dare turn it on because it only blows hot air in. It's so hot that I have to spread a mat under the bed and watch my phone to pass the lunchtime. The heat is indescribable. Yet, when my wife and children call, I don't dare share my difficulties because I'm afraid they'll worry," Mr. Quy said.

Even healthy people can't endure it, let alone those who are sick.

In the "dialysis patient neighborhood" at alley 121, Le Thanh Nghi Street (Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi), there are currently 121 patients living. Many patients here try to stay in the capital by doing jobs such as selling iced tea or porridge, working while receiving treatment.

Ms. Dang Thi Xiem (28 years old, from Nam Dinh province) shared that, having lived in the "dialysis patient neighborhood" for 7 years, the scorching heat of Hanoi remains a nightmare for her. Many days, unable to sleep at home due to the heat, she has to snatch a few hours of sleep at the hospital after treatment. Speaking about her experience coping with the extreme heat, Ms. Xiem said that she always keeps a basin of water and a towel in her room, and she also bought a humidifier to keep the room cooler. "On days when Hanoi reaches 38-39 degrees Celsius, to be able to rest comfortably in the room, I have to get up every 15-30 minutes to wipe myself down; I also use water to splash on the roof and walls of my rented room to reduce the temperature," Ms. Xiem said.

Not far from Ms. Xiêm's room is the room of Ms. Vũ Thị Ngát (67 years old, from Nam Định). Eight years ago, she came from her hometown to Hanoi to care for her sick husband and rented a small room, living temporarily in the "dialysis patient neighborhood." Recently, her eldest son has also been helping his mother care for his father. In the room, which is barely 10 ^square meters, three people struggle to cope with the heat. Ms. Ngát said that because the room is small and three people live there, it's very stuffy. "This weather is torture; even I, who am healthy, can't stand it, let alone those who are sick," Ms. Ngát said.

Mr. Mai Anh Tuan (47 years old, from Ba Vi District, Hanoi), who is considered the head of the neighborhood, said that the "dialysis neighborhood" has 121 patients, most of whom are in difficult circumstances. "The hot season is a nightmare for our neighborhood; staying in the rooms is like being in an oven. Many people can't sleep at night and have to go outside to talk all night," Mr. Tuan said.

According to the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), high temperatures and prolonged hot weather create favorable conditions for viruses, bacteria, and disease-causing insects to thrive. Common illnesses caused by hot weather include respiratory diseases (pneumonia, sore throat, viral fever, etc.). In addition, poor hygiene and food safety are a cause of gastrointestinal diseases (diarrhea). Hot weather also increases the risk of stroke, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and even sudden death. In particular, ultraviolet rays from sunlight can lead to skin cancer. Heatstroke, exhaustion, dehydration, and muscle cramps can also occur due to hot weather.

To minimize the harmful effects of heat on health, the Department of Preventive Medicine recommends that people strengthen measures to protect themselves from the heat, such as: drinking plenty of water; wearing cool clothing; keeping houses well-ventilated; avoiding direct sunlight; eating and drinking only cooked food and water; and cleaning the nose and throat daily with saline solution.

Mr. Nguyen Van Huong, Head of the Weather Forecasting Department (National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting), said that there is currently a widespread heatwave in the North and Central regions, the longest since the beginning of the year.

In the Northern and Central regions, the peak of the heatwave will be concentrated on May 17th and May 21st-23rd. The western mountainous areas of the Central provinces, from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai, will experience the most intense heat, with temperatures commonly ranging from 38-39°C, and exceeding 40°C in some places. The temperatures forecast in heatwave reports are measurements taken in weather shelters. The actual perceived temperature outdoors may differ by 2-4°C, or even higher, depending on surface conditions such as concrete or asphalt.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-lao-dong-chat-vat-vi-nang-nong-185230518164220195.htm