Bangus capital sizzles at 51 degrees Celsius heat index

In previous years, the Bangus Festival in Dagupan City featured the “Gilon-gilon ed Baley,” a street dance competition. The annual event has been shelved, for the second time, due to the pandemic. Photo by Willie Lomibao

DAGUPAN CITY – The home of the iconic Dagupan bangus (milkfish) sizzled on Saturday (May 8) when the heat index reached 51 degrees Celsius at 2 p.m.

The summer heat has been soaring for the last five days, according to the weather bureau.

But Saturday’s index has been considered within the “danger category (ranging from 41 degrees to 54 degrees” by the Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The city’s actual temperature for the day was 36.2 degrees.

The index in this coastal city at the start of the week was 45 degrees Celsius from May 3 to 4, and rose to 46 degrees on Wednesday (May 5), 47 degrees on Thursday (May 6), and 48 degrees by Friday (May 7).

An extreme heat index may trigger heat cramps and heat exhaustion and could lead to heatstroke if physical activities continue in the day.

The PDRRMO advised residents to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and other ailments.

YOLANDA SOTELO INQ

/MUF