VIENTIANE, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Many parts of Laos have been affected by the sweltering temperatures, affecting people's daily lives and having a damaging effect on agricultural production.

According to a forecast by the weather bureau of Laos on Monday, most areas in Laos are expected to undergo peak temperatures ranging from 39 to 43 degrees Celsius from April 29 to May 5.

Due to the high temperatures, Laos' Ministry of Education and Sports has instructed school administrators to consider temporarily suspending classes if necessary.

The ministry suggested the administrators keep track of weather forecasts and caution that temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and above may affect the health of children.

"I completely agree with the Lao government's measures to safeguard students from heat-related risks by urging school administrators to suspend classes and reduce outdoor activities," a food vendor in Lao capital Vientiane told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Soukchai, a 33-year-old man living in Vientiane province, said that he has decided to grow vegetables and raise some chickens at home in 2019 to help reduce his family's expenses on food.

"The current high temperatures have damaged some crops and increased the water demand, and I observed that the sizes of vegetables are smaller than in the past years. In addition, chickens are suffering from hot weather while a few died from heat stress."

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology under the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on April 25 issued a warning, advising people to remain vigilant and wary of a potential conflagration amid soaring temperatures.

The ministry has advised members of the public to avoid outdoor activities and take precautions in order to ensure their well-being.

Nangnoy, a food vendor in Vientiane province, said everyone should be cautious of the risk of heat-related illnesses like heatstroke and heat exhaustion, adding that everyone should drink plenty of water, and try to stay in cool places.

"Normally, tourists usually walk around Vangvieng, which is a tourist town in Vientiane province, and try our local food. Due to the current high temperature, most of them choose to stay in their room where they can turn the air conditioner on and avoid exposure to sunlight. Of course, it did have an impact on our sales," she said.

Khammay, a 35-year-old man living in Lao capital Vientiane said that swimming is one of his favorite activities to cool off during a hot day.

"I like swimming and my kids love playing in a pool, so we often go to the swimming pool. But we have to remain vigilant that high temperatures can be dangerous and are also likely to cause illnesses, such as food poisoning, because of the rapid growth of harmful bacteria," he added.

At the Lao government's monthly meeting for April, the cabinet stressed the need for sound preparations in response to natural disasters to mitigate their impacts.

With a heatwave currently covering the region, the cabinet has ordered that action be taken to safeguard people's health during very high temperatures. Enditem

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