Record heat wave continues to grapple S. Korea

Seoul, South Korea, on August 3, witnessed an ongoing unprecedented heat wave that left many areas reporting record high temperatures and numerous individuals falling victim to heat-related illnesses, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reported. On Monday, the nation experienced temperatures soaring to a record-breaking 40.9 C in the southeastern city of Daegu, breaking the 40 C threshold for the first time since August 1, 1942.

Severe heat wave warnings were in effect across most of the country, with the perceived temperature reaching over 38 C for more than a day as one of the warning criteria. In Yangsan, a southeastern city, temperatures reached an all-time high of 42.5 C since modern weather observations began in 1904, peaking at 38 C. The extreme weather has led to health emergencies nationwide.

In Incheon, located west of Seoul, a man in his 40s succumbed to the heat on Monday morning after his body temperature neared 40 C. He had been admitted to a hospital the previous day. Moreover, on Sunday, two farmers, aged 60 and 80 respectively, were found dead in South Chungcheong province. The KMA linked the prolonged high temperatures to the convergence of high-pressure systems across the peninsula and strong, direct sunlight under clear skies.