Cebu disaster body reports seven deaths due to heat stroke as El Niño lingers

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CEBU CITY – The Cebu Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has reported seven heat-related deaths in the province as the El Niño weather phenomen lingers on.

Baltazar Tribunalo, Cebu PDRRMO head, bared this in a press conference on the toll of the El Nino in Cebu”s crops and livestock.

Tribunalo said the El Niño already damaged PHP227.1 million worth of crops and livestock.

But the El Niño has also taken its toll on some residents, with at least seven deaths reported due to heat stroke.

Cebu PDRRMO training head Eric Lopez said the records of the Cebu Provincial Rapid Assessment Team (CPRAT) showed that the fatalities are from the first district, Daanbantayan and San Remigio towns.

Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro said he is still verifying the deaths in his town.

Cebu Provincial Health Office (PHO) head Cynthia Genosolango believes that these are heat stroke-related deaths.

Genosolango said her office is still checking on the persons who died as they have yet to receive reports from the 16 district and provincial hospitals.

She urged residents to drink plenty of liquids to prevent heat stroke.

She said the early signs of heat stroke are thirst, dizziness and the feeling of being ill.