Hundreds of Philippine schools suspend classes over heat danger
Hundreds of schools in the Philippines, including dozens in Manila, had to suspend in-person classes due to the scorching heat on Tuesday. The heat index, which measures how hot it feels factoring in humidity, was expected to hit dangerous levels of 42 degrees Celsius in Manila and even higher in other areas. The state weather forecaster predicted similar intense temperatures in various parts of the country.
Local authorities in Luzon, central islands, and Mindanao took action by either suspending in-person classes or shortening school hours to avoid the peak heat of the day. The Department of Education couldn’t provide an exact count of affected schools, but the impact was felt across different regions. The dry months of March, April, and May, worsened by the El Nino weather phenomenon, intensified the heat conditions.
In Quezon, the most populous part of Manila, primary and secondary schools were directed to close, while other areas were given the choice to switch to remote learning. Some schools in Manila adjusted their class hours to cope with the extreme temperatures. The weather forecaster warned that a heat index of 42-51 degrees Celsius could lead to heat cramps and exhaustion, with heat stroke likely with prolonged exposure. Heat-related issues can also arise at lower temperatures, emphasizing the severity of the heatwave in the affected regions.
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