Pili Mayor Thomas Bongalonta Jr. said Wednesday that three (3) people have been killed in Pili, Camarines Sur as temperatures rose nearly to 48 degrees Celsius on May 1.
The heat index in the city had averaged from 46 degrees Celsius since last Friday to a whopping 49 degrees Celsius last Sunday.
According to Bongalonta, the three who died were employees; prior to this incident, a traffic guard suffered a heart attack and died due to the rising temperature.
Because of the dangerous heat index, the local government of Pili has decided to suspend all public school classes save for private schools, which have the benefit of air-conditioning.
Assistance and aid have also been sent by the local government to persons with disabilities, solo parents and elderly to help them during the heat wave.
Furthermore, medical personnel, including two municipal doctors, are now on call for any emergencies.
Pili boasts of 28 resorts, all of which are filled to the brim by tourists trying to beat the heat.
CBSUA-Pili, which topped the list of places with dangerous heat index at near 48 degrees Celsius, is not the only city where the heatwave has reached dangerous levels. Based on the PAGASA Heat Index Forecast, 35 areas endured rising heat levels on Wednesday, Labor Day.
Not far second from Pili was Dagupan City at 47 degrees Celsius; Aparri, Cagayan at 46 degrees Celsius, Laoag City (45 degrees Celsius), Tuguegarao City (45 degrees Celsius), Puerto Princesa City (45 degrees Celsius), Virac, Catanduanes (45 degrees Celsius), and Masbate City (45 degrees Celsius).
Meanwhile, Ronald De Guzman, the head of the Dagupan City-CDRRMO, said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview that dangerous heat levels in Dagupan City, Pangasinan led to the death of one person due to heat stroke.
Based on the report of the city health office, two other individuals had been hospitalized.
Barangay officials have been instructed to do the rounds of reminding the elderly to stay hydrated and stay indoors from 10AM to 3PM. As a response, schools have shifted to online classes.
PAGASA weather specialist Rhea Torres, meanwhile, reported in a 4AM weather forecast that one of two tropical cyclones is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this May.
Torres said that while there is a huge possibility for the cyclone to simply make an approach, and then swerve shortly after, the other situation could be that the storm would cross the Eastern Visayas, Bicol, Mimaropa, and some parts of Luzon.