{
  "id": 126651,
  "title": "South Korea’s Lee calls heatwave national disaster, deaths rise to 19",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/south-koreas-lee-calls-heatwave-national-disaster-deaths-rise-to-19",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-04T10:24:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3362949/south-koreas-lee-calls-heatwave-national-disaster-deaths-rise-19"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, declared a national disaster on Tuesday due to the country's unprecedented heatwave, which has claimed 19 lives so far. Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Lee emphasized the need for authorities to provide enhanced support for those affected by the record-breaking temperatures and directed officials to implement necessary measures to safeguard public safety and inspect power systems as air conditioning usage surged.\n\nLee highlighted a significant concern, stating that abnormal weather conditions heighten the likelihood of extreme weather persisting for an extended period. In response to the dangerous situation, the nation's weather agency recorded a temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius (108.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in Yangsan, a southeastern inland city in a basin, marking the highest temperature ever observed in 122 years of weather records. The Korea Meteorological Administration issued an inaugural heatwave warning for parts of Seoul and neighboring Gyeonggi on Monday, subsequently extending the warning to encompass the entire capital on Tuesday.\n\nA heatwave alert was issued, urging people to cease outdoor activities like farming, sports, and work on construction sites to protect themselves from the extreme heat. Cho Sang-yeon, a resident of a jjokbang village in western Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo district, expressed his astonishment at the heat he had never experienced before in his nearly two decades living there. Some residents had been relocated to government-provided temporary housing with air conditioning, although many homeless individuals still lived in the area and were struggling with the heat.\n\nFirefighters and officials were spraying water on roads in the affected region and monitoring vulnerable residents for heat-related illnesses, according to Jun Hong-cheol, an official at Yeongdeungpo Fire Station. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported on Tuesday that the death toll due to the heatwave had increased to 19, including 13 people aged 80 or older. Since May 15, a total of 2,025 people across the nation had fallen ill due to heat-related issues, as per data from the weather agency. Moreover, two scheduled baseball games in Seoul and Gwangju were canceled due to the extreme heat, announced by the Korea Baseball Organisation's website.",
  "summary": "South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung urged on Tuesday authorities to step up support for people affected by a record heatwave in the country, calling it a national disaster after scorching conditions were blamed for 19 deaths. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Lee ordered officials to take necessary measures to protect the daily lives of people and inspect power systems as demand for air…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "South Korea: 16 dead amid record heatwave, President Lee urges action",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/south-korea-16-dead-amid-record-heatwave-president-lee-urges-action",
        "published": "2026-08-04T08:28:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}