- Temperatures in the south soared to a record 42.5C (108.5F) earlier this week, and at least 21 people have died from heat-related illnesses, with nearly 2,500 visiting emergency rooms since mid-May.
- President Lee Jae Myung has ordered public agencies to mobilise all available resources to deal with the extreme heat, which he has called a "national disaster".
- Some local governments have deployed trucks to parks, markets and bus stops to distribute chilled bottled waters for free, and in Yangsan, where the mercury hit a historic high of 42.5C on Sunday, sprinkler trucks have been spraying water onto roads.
- In rural areas such as North Gyeongsang province, local authorities are deploying drones with loudspeakers and thermal imaging cameras to protect farmers, many of whom are elderly, broadcasting warnings like "it's hot, you need to go inside".
- Most outdoor activities have been cancelled, including the daily changing-of-the-guard ceremony at Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace and all scheduled baseball games for the week, after a spectator collapsed at a game in Incheon on Tuesday.
- South Korea's air-conditioned airports, including Incheon, have become a refuge for vulnerable communities, with people lying on benches and using towels as makeshift blankets; one visitor at Seoul's Gimpo airport called it a "perfect place to rest without spending any money".
South Korea is facing an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures soaring to a record 42.5C (108.5F) this week. President Lee Jae Myung has declared the situation a national disaster and mobilized public agencies to address the crisis.1245
At least 21 people have died from heat-related illnesses, and nearly 2,500 have sought emergency care since mid-May. In response, local governments are distributing chilled bottled water and deploying drones equipped with loudspeakers to warn farmers, particularly the elderly, to take breaks and cool down.
In the southern city of Yangsan, where the record temperature was recorded, sprinkler trucks are spraying water on roads to alleviate the heat. Many outdoor activities, including the changing-of-the-guard ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace and national baseball games, have been canceled due to the extreme conditions.
Airports, including Incheon, have become shelters for vulnerable populations, such as the homeless and elderly, providing a cool refuge. One visitor at Gimpo airport remarked, it is a “perfect place to rest without spending any money.”
As the heatwave continues, authorities are urging residents to stay indoors and take precautions against the extreme weather.
“Heatwave conditions once seen only in foreign news reports have now become our reality,” President Lee stated, highlighting the severity of the situation.
“President Lee Jae Myung called the heat a 'national disaster' and ordered all public agencies to mobilise resources. At least 21 people have died and nearly 2,500 visited emergency rooms since mid-May, prompting cancellations of outdoor events including baseball games.”
bbc.com
