Extreme heat warnings force NorMin school closures

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — High heat index forecasts prompted local chief executives to suspend public school classes in this city and throughout the province of Misamis Oriental on Thursday and Friday.

The class suspensions followed a weather forecast from the PAGASA-Mindanao station at the Laguindingan Airport, which warned of temperatures reaching 43 degrees Celsius on 13 and 14 August.

The weather bureau classifies heat index levels between 42 and 51 C as a “danger” category, warning of potential heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke with continued exposure.

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando Uy issued an executive order halting public school classes from preschool to high school levels for both days.

The order left class suspensions for private schools and higher education institutions to the discretion of their respective administrators.

Class suspensions were also ordered across Misamis Oriental. In the cities of Gingoog and El Salvador, local officials suspended classes at all levels starting late Thursday morning until further notice.

A majority of towns in the province also suspended all school levels, including Alubijid, Balingasag, Balingoan, Binuangan, Initao, Gitagum, Jasaan, Kinoguitan, Lagonglong, Laguindingan, Lugait, Magsaysay, Manticao, Medina, Opol, Sugbongcogon, Tagoloan, Talisayan, Villanueva and Libertad.

In Naawan and Salay, suspensions were enforced from preschool through senior high school for Thursday and Friday.