Seoul temperature tops 40 degrees Celsius as extreme heat shows little sign of abating
Cities and provinces across the country are implementing measures to mitigate heat-related illnesses and deaths as well as damage to livestock and crops.
A thermometer shows the temperature goes above 40 degrees Celsius due to extreme heat in Gwanghwamun, Jongno District, central Seoul on Aug. 7.NEWS1
Temperatures in Seoul surpassed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday as a record-breaking heat wave continued to grip Korea even on Ipchu — the traditional calendar date marking the beginning of autumn — with heat-related illnesses and agricultural damage mounting across the country.
The temperature reached 40.2 degrees Celsius in Nowon District, northern Seoul, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Deokpung-dong in Hanam, Gyeonggi, recorded an even higher temperature of 40.7 degrees.
The KMA had issued its highest-level heat warning at 11 a.m. Friday for parts of Daegu; Gumi, Goryeong County, Chilgok County and western Andong in North Gyeongsang; Yeongwol County in Gangwon; and parts of the Jeolla region.
The highest-level warnings covered the greater Seoul area, inland Gangwon and parts of the Jeolla and North Gyeongsang regions, while heat advisories or warnings remained in effect across most of the rest of the country.
As of 6 p.m., the highest-level warning was taken down one notch.
Temperatures approached 40 degrees in several areas across the country Friday afternoon. Chungung-dong in Hanam, Gyeonggi, reached 40 degrees, while Oeseo-myeon in Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi, and Gwangyang-eup in Gwangyang, South Jeolla, recorded 39.9 degrees. Temperatures reached 39.8 degrees in Yeongwol County, Gangwon, and Miryang, South Gyeongsang.
Geumsa-myeon in Yeoju, Gyeonggi, and Okpo-eup in Dalseong County, Daegu, recorded 39.6 degrees, while Sinam-dong in Dong District, Daegu; Saengnim-myeon in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang; and Goryeong County, North Gyeongsang, each reached 39.5 degrees.
Heat haze shimmers above Yeoui-daero in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on Aug. 4 as an extreme heat warning remained in effect across Seoul.YONHAP
The heat has shown little sign of easing even overnight. On Jeju Island, nighttime temperatures have remained above 25 degrees — classified as a tropical night — for a month.
Jeju has recorded 31 tropical nights so far this year, followed by Seogwipo with 30, Gosan with 27 and Seongsan with 20. Especially at the Jeju observation station, tropical nights have continued for 31 consecutive days since July 7.
As the heat wave drags on, casualties and damage to farms and livestock are mounting, too.
A total of 2,665 people have suffered heat-related illnesses, including 23 who died, as of Wednesday, according to a heat-related illness surveillance system operated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency since May 15.
Livestock losses have also been severe. In South Chungcheong, 63,142 animals had died at 308 farms as of Thursday, while 29.9 acres of crops have been damaged.
A drone sprays water on the roof of a livestock facility in Sejong on July 30.YONHAP
In North Chungcheong, 3,295 chickens, 231 ducks and six pigs died from the heat on Wednesday alone. Cumulative livestock deaths in the region have reached 37,984, including 35,664 chickens, 1,426 ducks and 894 pigs.
A combination of extreme heat and drought has caused further crop damage in South Gyeongsang. In Gimhae, impaired rice growth has been reported across 198 acres, while sun damage has affected about 30 percent of the area's sweet persimmon cultivation.
The water storage rate at agricultural reservoirs in South Gyeongsang stood at 36.7 percent Friday, equivalent to just 51.2 percent of the seasonal average. In Miryang, the rate had fallen to 29.9 percent, or 40.1 percent of the seasonal average.
Local governments and public agencies across the country are stepping up measures to mitigate the effects of the heat.
Incheon Airport has deployed water trucks and fire engines to spray water on its first runway to prevent heat-related damage to the pavement. A total of 88,000 liters (23,200 gallons) of water was sprayed in two rounds Thursday, with the measure set to continue Friday.
A chicken drinks water amid extreme heat at a poultry farm in Naju, South Jeolla, on July 10.NEWS1
Daegu has activated a road-spraying system along Dalgubeol-daero in Dalseo District to cool the road surface and will open 27 senior welfare centers as cooling shelters on Saturdays.
South Chungcheong has stepped up patrols in heat-vulnerable areas, including locations with large homeless populations and agricultural and construction sites, while operating 6,158 indoor and outdoor cooling shelters.
Jeonju has designated an additional 58 cooling shelters, while Gunsan, North Jeolla, plans to extend subsidies for air-conditioning costs at local centers for older adults through September.
The KMA expects extreme heat and tropical nights to continue across much of the country for the time being. The administration also urged people to take precautions against heat-related illnesses and damage to crops and livestock.
BY JEONG JAE-HONG [shin.woojin@joongang.co.kr]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
