Scorching temperatures leave 15 dead

Social Affairs

Published: 30 Jul. 2023, 18:19 Updated: 04 Aug. 2023, 12:36

Scorching temperatures leave 15 dead

A weather analyst checks nationwide temperatures at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Meteorology in Suwon, Gyeonggi, on Sunday as temperatures hover near 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). [YONHAP]

At least 15 people died over the weekend and dozens of people suffered a heat-related illness as nationwide temperatures soared.

Four people drowned in the ocean or mountain streams while trying to escape from the heat. The other fatalities were from heatstroke.

Heat wave warnings were issued throughout most parts of the country during the weekend, as the high in some areas reached up to a sweltering 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).

The national weather agency said the heat will likely continue this week.

As a precaution, officials warned all members of the public, particularly elderly people, to avoid outdoor activities from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., the hottest hours of the day.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) announced Sunday that the hot weather is expected to last for at least 10 more days.

In Seoul, daily lows from Wednesday to Aug. 9 will likely be 26 to 27 degrees Celsius, officials said, resulting in “tropical nights.” A tropical night is when temperatures remain at 25 degrees or above from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Eleven people died from heatstroke on Saturday and Sunday, including four in North Gyeongsang and two in South Gyeongsang.

Most were elderly individuals who were tending to their farms in the sun before passing out.

Four others fatally drowned on Saturday in separate incidents: one in a valley in Inje County, Gangwon; one in a stream in Wonju, Gangwon; one at a beach in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang; and another at a beach in Busan.

Apart from the deaths, 255 people were diagnosed with a heat-related illness from last Wednesday to Saturday, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.

The KDCA said Sunday that the number of patients was expected to climb this week as the weather gets hotter.

The figure rose from seven on July 24 to 14 the next day, 46 on Wednesday, 62 on Thursday, 70 on Friday and 74 on Saturday.

Temperatures have begun to rise after the monsoon season ended early last week.

About a quarter, or 27.3 percent, of patients who suffered from a heat-related illness were 65 years of age or older, KDCA data show, with those in their 50s following closely at 20.7 percent. Among the total, 79 percent were male and 21 percent were female.

About 52 percent of the patients fell ill between noon and 5 p.m., followed by 17.8 percent from 10 a.m. to noon.

About 82 percent of the patients fell ill while outdoors: 32.7 percent were at an outdoor workplace, such as a construction site, 13.9 percent were at a field and 11.4 percent were on a street.

On Monday, the high across the country is anticipated to reach up to 30 to 36 degrees. The KMA said showers with winds, thunder and lightning could occur in inland areas. While the showers may temporarily lower the temperature, the humidity will rise and the heat is likely to persist or even worsen, officials said.

Typhoon Khanun, which was moving north-northwest to northwest in the waters 1,020 kilometers (634 miles) off south-southeast of Japan’s Okinawa as of 9 a.m. on Sunday, is predicted to land in the south-southwest coast of China’s Shanghai on Thursday without directly affecting Korea.

Tides near Jeju Island, however, are expected to rise from Monday to Friday as the typhoon passes.

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]