Suhairi Bujang
Gabriellia Hazel
KUCHING: The ongoing heatwave in Sarawak has certainly raised the temperature of locals and visitors here, amidst a reported rise in sales of bottled water.
Kuching Waterfront security guard Suhairi Bujang said on ‘normal’ days, a bottle of water would usually suffice for the day.
“With this unbearable heat, I now have to bring three bottles (of water) from home just to get me through my working hours. This heatwave is definitely something to be concerned about,” he told The Borneo Post when met yesterday.
For hotel worker Gabriellia Hazel, she said the current hot spell had definitely made her more appreciative of working indoors.
“When I have to go out, I end up sweating heavily. The first thing I do upon returning to my quarters after work is to take a shower to cool off,” she said.
A visitor from Sabah, who identified himself only as Teddy, said he arrived here thinking the weather would not be as hot as in Kota Kinabalu (KK).
“Even back in KK, the heat is unbearable. It feels as though the sun itself is close to Earth,” he said, saying that he kept himself hydrated by drinking lots of water.
Meanwhile, several store workers told The Borneo Post that there had been a rise in the number of customers purchasing bottled drinking water, as compared with the days prior to the heatwave.
A cashier of a 24-hour convenience store in Siburan said she noticed that there were more customers adding bottles of water alongside other items that they purchased.
“With this weather, it’s not surprising that everyone is drinking more water,” said the cashier, adding that the heat and humidity had also made it more difficult for her to sleep at night.
A cashier at another store along Jalan Padungan also said sales of bottled water and other types of drinks had gone up, although she was unable to disclose any figure.
“Just based on my observation during my shift during the day, definitely more people, especially tourists, are buying drinking water,” she said.
Last Friday, the Malaysian Meteorological Department issued a Level 1 alert for Sri Aman and Kapit divisions amidst the ongoing heatwave, after temperatures of between 35°C and 37°C were recorded over three consecutive days.
Other parts of Sarawak were reported to experience maximum temperature of less than 35°C.
The Health Ministry, in a statement last month, said extremely hot weather could lead to excessive sweating, which would contribute to the reduction of bodily fluids that could cause a victim to feel lethargic and be at risk of experiencing dehydration and heat stroke.
The ministry advised the public to drink more water, limit their outdoor activities, avoid wearing thick and tight apparel, and to stay indoors as much as possible.