Refresher break: A man leaves a BKK Cooling Centre at Benchakitti Sports Centre in Watthana district on Saturday. In response, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has rolled out hundreds of free "BKK Cooling Centres", converting public venues into air-conditioned refuges across the capital as part of a broader push to mitigate extreme heat. These centres provide spaces to rest, cool down and recover from summer conditions, particularly during peak afternoon hours. Expanding citywide networkPornphrom Vikitsreth, adviser to the governor and the BMA's chief sustainability officer overseeing the project, said the network now includes 313 indoor cooling centres -- mostly at district offices, public health clinics, recreation centres and BMA-run schools -- along with 279 outdoor cooling points in parks, neighbourhood "15-minute" parks and temples. Cooling centres are widely used in cities such as Phoenix and Paris, where similar models provide refuge during heatwaves.

Source: Bangkok Post April 12, 2026 02:00 UTC