Thailand’s health authorities have warned residents and visitors to remain vigilant as the country enters its hottest period of the year, following multiple deaths linked to extreme temperatures. Officials say heatstroke continues to pose a serious health risk, especially for people working outdoors or those with underlying medical conditions.
The warning was issued as Thailand moves deeper into its annual summer season, which usually runs from late February until mid-May. During this period, temperatures across the country often soar, creating dangerous conditions that can lead to heat-related illnesses if proper precautions are not taken.
Health officials say the risk becomes particularly severe in April, when temperatures can climb as high as 41 degrees Celsius. Such intense heat can overwhelm the body’s ability to regulate its temperature, potentially leading to life-threatening complications.
Authorities are urging the public to stay informed about the risks and adopt preventive measures, particularly as climate patterns continue to bring increasingly hot weather across Southeast Asia.
Heat-Related Illnesses Affect Hundreds
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control reported that 182 cases of heat-related illnesses were recorded in 2025 through the country’s digital disease surveillance system.
The data shows that men accounted for the majority of cases, representing about 59 per cent of those affected. The most impacted age group was individuals between 15 and 34 years old, who made up nearly 43 per cent of reported cases.
Another group at higher risk included older adults aged 60 and above.
More than half of the cases involved people who worked outdoors, including soldiers, construction workers, and labourers. These occupations often require prolonged exposure to high temperatures, increasing the likelihood of heat exhaustion or more severe conditions.
Among the illnesses recorded, heat exhaustion was the most common, making up more than one-third of reported cases. Other conditions included heat syncope, which refers to fainting caused by heat exposure, as well as heat cramps that occur when the body loses excessive fluids and salts through sweating.
Heatstroke itself — the most dangerous form of heat illness — accounted for a smaller number of cases but remains the most life-threatening.
Fatalities Highlight Growing Risk
Health authorities said surveillance data recorded 21 heat-related deaths in 2025.
Most of the fatalities were men, with victims ranging in age from 27 to 79. The average age of those who died was 51.
Around one-third of the victims were labourers, again highlighting the heightened risk faced by outdoor workers exposed to prolonged heat.
The deaths were reported across 16 provinces, with the highest number occurring in Udon Thani. The north-eastern region of Thailand recorded the largest share of fatalities overall.
Officials also noted that some of the victims had pre-existing medical conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes. Alcohol consumption was also identified as a contributing factor in certain cases.
About two-thirds of the deaths occurred outdoors, reinforcing the dangers of extended exposure to extreme heat.
How Heatstroke Becomes Life-Threatening
Health experts explain that heatstroke occurs when the body’s temperature regulation system fails after prolonged exposure to high heat, typically above 40 degrees Celsius.
When this happens, the body can no longer cool itself effectively, causing internal temperatures to rise rapidly.
Common warning signs include extremely high body temperature, hot or flushed skin, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and weakness. In more severe cases, people may experience seizures, incoherent speech, or even lose consciousness.
Medical experts stress that anyone showing symptoms of heatstroke should receive immediate medical attention, as the condition can quickly become fatal without treatment.