SCORCHING heat across Asia and the Middle East in late April was made 45 times more likely in some parts of the continent because of human-caused climate change, a study said on Tuesday.

Sizzling temperatures were felt across swathes of Asia, from Gaza in the west — where over 2 million people face clean water shortages, lack of health care and other essentials amid the Israeli bombardment — to the Philippines in the south-east.

The study by the World Weather Attribution group of scientists said many parts of the continent experienced temperatures well above 40°C for several days in a row.