By: Capacia, Malchiah Reizelle Anne
About 45 dancers and audience members collapsed during the celebration of the Pakol Festival in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, due to the extreme heat, which reached between 40°C and 41°C on Wednesday, April 24.
According to Guian Jeif Anqui, the nurse in charge of Operations and Warning at the Sta. Catalina Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the dancers fainted in the afternoon before the dance competition began.
“Some of the street dancers had already passed out before 2PM and were treated with oral rehydration salts and given first aid by emergency responders on standby,” he added.
Anqui also mentioned that more people fainted during the grand showdown that took place after the street dancing.
Meanwhile, Anqui confirmed that no one was reported to have been admitted to the hospital, as the patients received immediate emergency treatment during the festival.
