Dubai Telegraph - 'Have to be outside': Thai delivery riders swelter in heatwave

EUR -
AED 3.87282
AFN 71.625128
ALL 98.263321
AMD 407.970486
ANG 1.899791
AOA 962.663602
ARS 1051.067339
AUD 1.631077
AWG 1.900549
AZN 1.798486
BAM 1.958049
BBD 2.128344
BDT 125.96467
BGN 1.955085
BHD 0.397241
BIF 3112.4647
BMD 1.054396
BND 1.418488
BOB 7.283365
BRL 6.104322
BSD 1.054116
BTN 88.969903
BWP 14.469687
BYN 3.449662
BYR 20666.160971
BZD 2.12474
CAD 1.482096
CDF 3021.898508
CHF 0.937527
CLF 0.037279
CLP 1028.647693
CNY 7.62536
CNH 7.633931
COP 4725.539129
CRC 538.397922
CUC 1.054396
CUP 27.941493
CVE 110.391784
CZK 25.293059
DJF 187.70647
DKK 7.458966
DOP 63.75201
DZD 141.188128
EGP 52.232037
ERN 15.81594
ETB 130.663286
FJD 2.398592
FKP 0.832253
GBP 0.831576
GEL 2.873225
GGP 0.832253
GHS 16.944461
GIP 0.832253
GMD 74.862142
GNF 9084.57199
GTQ 8.140388
GYD 220.533281
HKD 8.206485
HNL 26.616695
HRK 7.52128
HTG 138.495269
HUF 406.18176
IDR 16739.748546
ILS 3.943104
IMP 0.832253
INR 89.025973
IQD 1380.88594
IRR 44395.341775
ISK 145.714955
JEP 0.832253
JMD 166.872443
JOD 0.747672
JPY 164.844787
KES 136.249032
KGS 91.075039
KHR 4281.490904
KMF 491.879999
KPW 948.955971
KRW 1477.082135
KWD 0.324311
KYD 0.878409
KZT 522.600203
LAK 23156.595221
LBP 94394.511571
LKR 307.963695
LRD 194.484286
LSL 19.29456
LTL 3.113357
LVL 0.637794
LYD 5.148938
MAD 10.528192
MDL 19.09493
MGA 4938.695484
MKD 61.600748
MMK 3424.636974
MNT 3582.837442
MOP 8.450305
MRU 41.904537
MUR 49.757409
MVR 16.300935
MWK 1827.807895
MXN 21.581165
MYR 4.723167
MZN 67.322601
NAD 19.29456
NGN 1771.058131
NIO 38.791056
NOK 11.736207
NPR 142.352166
NZD 1.798557
OMR 0.40752
PAB 1.054111
PEN 4.016613
PGK 4.176381
PHP 62.033287
PKR 292.777141
PLN 4.322444
PYG 8232.454929
QAR 3.842732
RON 4.971059
RSD 117.110839
RUB 104.854696
RWF 1447.269043
SAR 3.960344
SBD 8.839406
SCR 14.35464
SDG 634.22317
SEK 11.578211
SGD 1.417082
SHP 0.832253
SLE 23.931507
SLL 22110.161243
SOS 602.394704
SRD 37.27975
STD 21823.867718
SVC 9.223593
SYP 2649.201352
SZL 19.30226
THB 36.752023
TJS 11.236759
TMT 3.690386
TND 3.329239
TOP 2.469499
TRY 36.287882
TTD 7.15722
TWD 34.333229
TZS 2804.692693
UAH 43.455414
UGX 3868.442885
USD 1.054396
UYU 44.781644
UZS 13500.505255
VES 47.921351
VND 26768.477635
VUV 125.180008
WST 2.943442
XAF 656.714347
XAG 0.03453
XAU 0.00041
XCD 2.849558
XDR 0.794116
XOF 656.714347
XPF 119.331742
YER 263.44107
ZAR 19.243623
ZMK 9490.823149
ZMW 28.908201
ZWL 339.515071
  • RBGPF

    61.8400

    61.84

    +100%

  • SCS

    -0.1000

    13.27

    -0.75%

  • CMSC

    -0.0600

    24.55

    -0.24%

  • CMSD

    -0.0050

    24.725

    -0.02%

  • RYCEF

    -0.3200

    6.79

    -4.71%

  • NGG

    0.2500

    62.37

    +0.4%

  • RELX

    -0.1700

    45.95

    -0.37%

  • RIO

    -0.1900

    60.43

    -0.31%

  • BP

    0.4800

    29.05

    +1.65%

  • GSK

    -0.7200

    34.39

    -2.09%

  • BTI

    0.0700

    35.49

    +0.2%

  • JRI

    -0.0300

    13.21

    -0.23%

  • BCC

    -2.2000

    140.35

    -1.57%

  • VOD

    -0.0700

    8.68

    -0.81%

  • AZN

    -0.2500

    65.04

    -0.38%

  • BCE

    -0.3700

    26.84

    -1.38%

'Have to be outside': Thai delivery riders swelter in heatwave
'Have to be outside': Thai delivery riders swelter in heatwave / Photo: MANAN VATSYAYANA - AFP

'Have to be outside': Thai delivery riders swelter in heatwave

In Bangkok's central Siam Square, Suriyan Wongwan sweats while he waits to collect the food that he will deliver by motorbike as Thailand bakes through a heatwave.

Text size:

"I'm afraid of getting heatstroke," the 51-year-old told AFP as the mercury hit 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit), with humidity pushing the "real feel" to a sticky 43C (109F).

Large swathes of Southeast Asia are struggling through a heatwave that has broken temperature records and forced millions of children to stay home as schools close across the region.

Experts say climate change makes heatwaves more frequent, longer and more intense, while the El Nino phenomenon is also driving this year's exceptionally warm weather.

Among those hit hardest are workers whose jobs require them to be outdoors all day, such as the motorbike drivers who deliver food and offer taxi rides through Bangkok's traffic-choked streets.

"My self-protection is to drink more water, so I can carry myself and not pass out," Suriyan said.

"In hot weather like this, I drink whenever I park my bike."

The air-conditioned malls from where he collects his deliveries offer some respite, but he also worries the rapid change in temperature risks making him sick.

Isara Sangmol is one of the city's legion of "win motosai" -- motorbike taxi drivers -- and has been on the job since he was 17.

These days he drinks four or five bottles of water a day to stay hydrated -- double his normal intake.

"We need to get enough sleep to work, otherwise the heat would affect our body and our health," the 48-year-old told AFP as he sipped water from a tumbler.

He waits for customers in the early afternoon at a motorbike stand that offers some shade.

"If it gets too hot for me, I can take off my orange 'win' jacket (worn by motorbike taxi drivers) and go inside the mall to cool down," he said.

He switched up his clothing for lighter fabrics that are more breathable, but driving a motorbike means he needs to wear long trousers and proper shoes.

Seksith Prasertpong has been delivering food for the Line Man appfor the past two years and said the heat "makes my job harder".

"I have to wash my face more often,go to the toiletand drink cold water regularly," the 38-year-old told AFP during a break.

Though the heat eases later in the day, Seksith said changing his working hours is not an option.

"Our rate is low. But the more we work, the more we earn," he said.

He would like to see incentives for drivers during hot weather, as is currently the case during heavy downpours when delivery rates are increased.

Suriyan also thinks rates ought to be raised to reflect the difficulties of the job.

Even in the heat, "riders like me still have to work because we need money to live our daily life... especially now when everything is getting more and more expensive," he said.

"I don't think there's any option to help us, because we have to be outside."

K.Al-Zaabi--DT