Over the past week, the heat spell that swept across northern and central Vietnam have disrupted normal life, caused health problems and even resulted for several businesses in the region to suffer significant losses. On June 15, the soaring temperature blanketing the regions even ignited a forest fire in Ha Tinh province of central Vietnam, burning large areas of the Mong Ga Pine Forest in Huong Son District and stretched to neighboring forests in Vu Quang District.

The high temperatures also resulted in power shortages due to reservoirs drying up and several of ${bigcity_Hanoi:"Hanoi"} Power company’s equipments breaking down while a number of their electric lines need to be upgraded or replaced. The frequent blackouts not only interfered with the normal operations of businesses in the region but also kept them from making profits. For the residents, the power interruptions have made their current ordeal with the heat even much worse. The record high temperatures hitting around 35-39 degrees Celsius, and at one time reaching 40 degrees, is still due to move further across the regions. Experts forecast episodes of heavy rains that will help rebound the temperature, yet the heat spell won’t end until a few more days.

The then bustling streets grow quiet on certain times of the day where temperature is unbearable as people would prefer to stay inside structures that would provide them shade and momentary relief from the grueling heat. It isn’t just the discomforts that come with the scorching climate people have to deal with. People, especially the children and the elderly, have grown more susceptible to a variety of heat-related conditions.

Several hospitals report a sharp rise in their admissions since the heat spell hit the regions, of which, their records show sunstroke, dehydration and a wide variety of serious conditions listed among the common complaints. Hundreds of patients brought to different medical facilities were found to have developed ailments precipitating from hot climate ranging from increased blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, digestive illnesses, pneumonia and a number of respiratory conditions.

Looks like Mother Nature has her way of kicking in. Residents are surely looking forward for the heat spell to end the soonest as possible. Meantime, locals in the affected regions looks like they have to exercise necessary measure to cope with the heat, keep themselves cooled down and most importantly, protect themselves from what the temperature might bring.