How did tropical heat affect prisoners during the Bataan Death March?

During the Bataan Death March, the tropical heat significantly exacerbated the suffering of the already sick, starving, and exhausted prisoners of war. The captives were forced to maintain a grueling pace under these harsh conditions with little access to water.1

The intense heat contributed to the physical collapse of many soldiers; those who were unable to keep up due to exhaustion or illness were often executed by their captors, including being bayoneted, shot, or beheaded. The combination of the extreme climate and the lack of basic necessities made the march a lethal ordeal, as the prisoners were already weakened by months of fighting and disease prior to their surrender.1