SINGAPORE, March 20 -- Singaporeans will have access to air-conditioned cooling spaces in community centres, residents' committees, and selected indoor sports halls during extreme heat conditions, as part of a national heatwave response plan.

The Mercury Taskforce, a newly formed inter-agency group comprising 37 public agencies, including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social and Family Development, introduced the plan yesterday, Channel News Asia (CNA) reported.

The initiative aims to coordinate responses across sectors when a heatwave is forecast.

According to CNA, a heatwave in Singapore is defined as three consecutive days where the highest temperature reaches at least 35degC, with a daily mean of no less than 29degC...