In Seoul, daily highs are forecast to reach 35°C or higher through July 31. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
SEOUL (The Korea Herald/ANN): Amid an intense heatwave in South Korea that shows no signs of abating, a government estimate suggested on July 27 that the number of suspected heat-related deaths has almost tripled, compared with that in 2024.
From May 20 until July 25, the government’s daily estimate showed that 11 deaths were suspected to be heat-related. The figure is nearly three times higher than the four recorded in the same period in 2024.
In the latest incident, a pedestrian in his 50s died at around 3pm on July 25 after he collapsed in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.
By region, Gyeonggi Province saw three deaths, while South Chungcheong Province and North Gyeongsang Province reported two deaths each. A total of four deaths were reported in Seoul, Busan, North Jeolla Province and South Gyeongsang Province, according to the estimate by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
The government also estimated that nearly 2,200 people experienced heatwave-related illnesses in the same period, up more than twofold year on year. Eighty-seven of the cases were reported on July 25 alone.
With the mercury rising above 37 deg C on July 27, the Korea Meteorological Administration’s forecast suggested that the heatwave, defined as successive days when the high tops 35 deg C, will likely last until July 31.
South Korea is currently under the influence of double high-pressure systems, as the Ministry of Interior and Safety on July 25 estimated that over 40 per cent of South Korea’s territory would see highs of 35 deg C over the next three days.
The same day, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters entered Level 1 emergency operations – the lowest of the three-tiered system.
On July 27, heatwave advisories or warnings were in effect in 180 out of 183 weather zones across the country.
The coastal city of Gangneung in Gangwon Province saw the highest temperature at 2pm, reaching 37.2 deg C, followed by 36.7 deg C in Seoul; 36.6 deg C in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province; and 36.4 deg C in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, according to the weather authorities.
The apparent temperature – reflecting how hot it feels to the human body – hit 38 deg C in Paju, Gyeonggi Province; 37.1 deg C in Ganghwado Island of Incheon; 36.2 deg C in Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province; 36.1 deg C in Gangneung, Gangwon Province; and 35 deg C in Seoul, as at 1pm on July 27.
On July 26, the mercury topped 40 deg C in some regions, with Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, marking a high of 41.3 deg C.
In Seoul, daily highs are forecast to reach 35 deg C or higher through July 31, then dipping below 35 deg C starting Aug 1 due to increased cloud cover.
Seoul will also endure tropical nights, as night-time temperatures will stay above 26 deg C throughout the week. The daily lows in the capital are forecast to be around 27 deg C on July 28, and 28 deg C on July 30.
The heatwave, coupled with heavy downpours in mid-July, has caused significant crop damage, resulting in a spike in food prices.
According to data from the state-run Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation, as of July 25, the retail price of a head of cabbage rose more than 50 per cent from a month earlier to 5,436 won (S$5), while a kilogram of spinach rose by more than 153 per cent to 22,760 won. A kilogram of lettuce retailed for 12,690 won, up 31.5 per cent from June.
The KMA estimated that South Korea experienced 9.5 days of heatwave conditions from June 1 until last July 25, which was the second-highest number recorded since 1973.
Meanwhile, according to the Interior Ministry as of the morning of July 27, South Korea had enough capacity to cover the 81.5 gigawatts of electricity demand during the peak hours expected on the evening of July 27. -- THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
