South Korea records its highest-ever temperature of 42.5 deg C
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More than 20 localities were under emergency heatwave alerts.
PHOTO: AFP
- South Korea recorded its highest-ever temperature of 42.5°C in Yangsan amid a severe heatwave, prompting emergency heatwave alerts and warnings to avoid outdoor activities.
- The Korea Meteorological Administration urged people to stay in air-conditioned or shaded places and stay hydrated, while the professional baseball league cancelled games for safety.
- Scientists link the extreme heat to climate change and El Nino, with similar heatwaves also affecting Europe, causing health warnings and wildfire risks.
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SEOUL – South Korea registered its highest temperature since records began more than a century ago on Aug 2, as the authorities warned people to “immediately” stop all outdoor activities in affected areas.
The south-eastern city of Yangsan recorded a temperature of 42.5 deg C at 1.26pm, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said on its website.
Yangsan has been the epicentre of the ongoing heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40 deg C for a fifth consecutive day on Aug 2. Many other cities, including Daegu and Busan, are seeing temperatures climb into the high 30s.
People flocked to air-conditioned shopping malls or cafes to escape the blistering temperatures, an AFP reporter saw.
Ju Dong-yeol, 27, took refuge from the heat in a Starbucks in Seoul with his parents and told AFP that “it is too hot to be outside doing anything”.
“I can’t think of anything else to do other than stay in air-conditioned places like home, shopping malls and cafes,” the office worker said.
On Aug 2, more than 20 localities were under emergency heatwave alerts – a new warning category introduced in 2026 to better address rising temperatures.
An emergency alert is issued when areas experiencing a heatwave are forecast to hit perceived temperatures of 38 deg C or an actual temperature of 39 deg C for the day.
Issuing a heat warning, the weather agency urged people to “immediately stop all outdoor activities”, adding that “indoor spaces without air-conditioning are dangerous”.
“Move immediately to a cool place, such as a designated cooling centre or a shaded area, and stay hydrated while resting,” the agency advised.
KMA data shows the average annual number of heatwave days in the country has more than doubled to 19 over the past five years, from eight in the 1970s.
A heatwave day is defined as one with a maximum temperature of at least 33 deg C, while a tropical night is when the overnight low remains at 25 deg C or above.
Baseball cancelled
South Korea’s professional baseball league was also forced to cancel one game in Changwon after the city’s temperature climbed to 39.5 deg C during the day, marking the second consecutive game cancellation there.
“The decision was made with the safety and health of spectators and players as the top priority, as a severe heatwave warning remains in effect for the Changwon area,” the Korea Baseball Organization said in a statement.
Scientists warn that extreme weather events such as heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of human-induced climate change.
Adding to the extreme weather is the return of El Nino in 2026 – a natural climate phenomenon that warms Pacific Ocean surface temperatures and typically occurs every two to seven years.
Europe also sweltered through a scorching summer in 2026, with prolonged heatwaves pushing temperatures above 40 deg C in parts of the south.
The European authorities issued health warnings, battled wildfires and urged people to avoid outdoor activities in the afternoon.
After sweeping across western Europe at the start of last week, the season’s latest heatwave scorched central Europe before reaching Italy over the weekend.
The Italian authorities said nearly all of the country’s major cities would be under the highest heat alert from Aug 3. AFP
