Scorching weather leaves more than 500 others in hospital


Casualties and damage are rising in Korea as a record heat wave continues to roast the country for the second week.

According to health authorities, the “dangerously high temperatures” this summer ―- with day highs rising beyond 35 degrees Celsius ― are blamed for at least 10 deaths so far. More than 500 have been rushed to the hospital for heat-related illness.

The scorching heat is having a devastating impact on farming, fisheries and agriculture, too.

At least 147,000 chickens, ducks and pigs have been reported dead as of Friday, according to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Some 150 tons of clams from two fishery farms in North Jeolla Province were killed. 

The authorities are guarding against the spread of the “red tide” in South Gyeongsang and South Jeolla Provinces, which is toxic to fish.

Several incidents of power blackouts were reported across the country as electricity demand soared.

Central and provincial authorities are on high alert for more casualties and damage, as the heat wave shows no sign of abating.

Most parts of the country are expected to remain under a heat wave warning Monday, with Seoul expected to report the highest temperature of 36 degrees.
It is the fifth consecutive day that the capital has experienced highs beyond 35 degrees.

Seoul also saw the longest stretch of tropical nights since 2002, with the phenomenon reported for nine nights in a row. Tropical nights are when temperatures stay above 25 degrees from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.

The heat wave and tropical nights are expected to continue into the middle of this week, the Korea Meteorological Agency said.

The southern island of Jeju, however, and coastal areas are likely to get some rain under the effect of Typhoon Haikui from Monday, which is moving northwestward from Okinawa, Japan.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)