Puerto Rico schools cancel classes amid unceasing, excessive heat

Classes are not in session in Puerto Rico's public schools Friday amid heat advisories and record-breaking temperatures — and no air conditioning in most schools.

Classes were not in session in Puerto Rico's public schools Friday as heat advisories and record-breaking temperatures forced government officials to scramble for ways to protect students.

The Department of Education announced the closure last week, as a measure to better prepare and equip schools — most of which lack air conditioning — ahead of an upcoming heat wave.

According to the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico stands to endure temperatures that could feel as hot as 114 degrees Fahrenheit next week.

In a recent survey of 2,500 Puerto Rican teachers, 83% said they lacked air conditioning in their classroom. Heat-related emergencies have been reported in about half of the public schools on the island, the survey also found.

Over the summer, heat records were broken almost every day in Puerto Rico. The island reported a record 47 nights with temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.