Government Schools in Philippines Closed Due to Heatwave

Philippine authorities issued orders today, Sunday, to suspend classes in all government schools for two days due to the severe heatwave hitting the country, in addition to the strike organized by transportation workers.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the meteorological department recorded a record high temperature in the capital Manila at 38.8 degrees Celsius, with hundreds of citizens seeking refuge in shopping centers to escape the heat and find air conditioning.

The meteorological department expects the heatwave to continue across the country for several more weeks.

Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh, and India are also affected by the ongoing severe heatwave in South and Southeast Asia since last week.

It is worth noting that the Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to its low elevation above sea level and the large number of citizens living in coastal areas on its numerous islands.