Soaring temperatures prompt suspension of classes in Philippines

Soaring temperatures in South and Southeast Asia on Wednesday (Apr 24) affected millions, prompting schools and colleges to suspend classes across the Philippines.

The situation also triggered heatwave warnings in Thailand's capital Bangkok.

Extensive scientific research has found that climate change was triggering prolonged intense heatwaves across the region.

"It's so hot you can't breathe," news agency AFP quoted Erlin Tumaron, 60, who works at a Philippine seaside resort in Cavite province, south of Manila, as saying.

The heat indexreached 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday (Apr 23) in the region.

"It's surprising our pools are still empty. You would expect people to come and take a swim, but it seems they're reluctant to leave their homes because of the heat."

El Nino weather phenomenon

El Nino weather phenomenon is being considered responsible for the scorching heat and severe weather conditions across the region.

The archipelago, which usually experiences high temperatures during the months of March, April and May, recorded the heat index at the "danger" level of 42C (108F).

It was expected to go even higher in at least 30 cities and municipalities on Wednesday, said the state weather forecaster.

The Philippine Department of Education said that nearly 6,700 schools suspended in-person classes on Wednesday (Apr 24).

Last year, global temperatures struck record levels with the UN's World Meteorological Organization stating that Asia was warming at a relatively rapid speed.

"Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, along with a barrage of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms," said WMO chief Celeste Saulo, who described the report as "sobering".

WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett said, "Extreme heat is increasingly becoming the big silent killer".

However, Barrett said that "heat-related mortality is widely under-reported and so the true scale of premature deaths and economic costs... is not accurately reflected in the statistics."

(With inputs from agencies)