28-4-2024 (MANILA) An unusually intense heat wave has descended upon the Philippines, with forecasters warning that the sizzling temperatures are expected to persist until mid-May. The extreme conditions have already etched their mark in the nation’s history, as the capital city of Manila experienced a record-breaking high of 38.8 degrees Celsius (101.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday, accompanied by a blistering heat index reaching a staggering 45 degrees Celsius.
Across Southeast Asia, the relentless heat has prompted thousands of schools to suspend in-person classes and authorities to issue urgent health warnings, urging citizens to take necessary precautions against the debilitating effects of the sweltering conditions.
In the Philippines, a surge of individuals has sought refuge in air-conditioned shopping malls and refreshing swimming pools, desperately seeking respite from the unforgiving heat. Nancy Bautista, a 65-year-old resort owner in Cavite province, near Manila, expressed her disbelief at the unprecedented temperatures, stating, “This is the hottest I’ve ever experienced here. Many of our guests are friends and families. They flock to our pools to escape the heat’s merciless grip.”
The state weather forecaster’s data paints a grim picture, with the heat index, a measure that accounts for humidity levels, reaching staggering heights. Glaiza Escullar, a meteorologist from the national weather agency, cautioned, “All regions of the country, not just Metro Manila, are expected to endure hotter temperatures until the second week of May. There is a strong possibility that these areas will exceed the temperatures being recorded today, persisting until mid-May.”
The municipality of Camiling in Tarlac province, situated north of Manila, recorded a sweltering 40.3 degrees Celsius on Saturday, marking the nation’s highest temperature this year.
As the mercury continued its relentless ascent, Gerise Reyes, a 31-year-old mother, shared her plans to seek refuge in a nearby shopping mall with her two-year-old daughter. “It’s unbearably hot here at home,” she lamented. “This is the hottest I’ve ever experienced, especially between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. We need the free air conditioning to mitigate the strain on our electricity bill.”
This unprecedented heat wave comes on the heels of a sobering report from the United Nations’ weather and climate agency, which revealed that global temperatures hit record highs last year, with Asia experiencing a particularly rapid rate of warming.
The Philippines, unfortunately, ranks among the countries most vulnerable to the devastating impacts of climate change, underscoring the urgency for collective action and proactive measures to combat this escalating global crisis.
