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South Korea has hit its hottest temperature ever recorded since modern weather observation began over a century ago, prompting authorities to issue an urgent warning. The city of Yangsan experienced a scorching 42.5C on Sunday, marking the highest temperature on record. The Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) declared this a new alert level, urging residents to cease all outdoor activities immediately.

Indoor spaces without air conditioning were deemed hazardous, and the agency recommended seeking refuge in cool areas and staying hydrated. The heatwave has persisted for five consecutive days in Yangsan, with many other cities like Daegu and Busan also sweltering in the high 30s. Over 20 localities were under emergency heatwave alerts, a category introduced this year to address the increasing temperatures.

The average annual number of heatwave days in the country has nearly doubled in the past five years, with a heatwave defined as 33C or higher. Baseball games in Changwon were canceled due to the extreme heat, emphasizing the severe nature of the warning. Climate scientists attribute the rising frequency and intensity of such events to human-induced climate change, compounded by the return of El Niño, a natural warming of the Pacific Ocean.