Heat wave warning issued nationwide

A heat wave warning has been issued for most parts of the nation,.. with the capital Seoul expected to see daytime temperature rise to 37 degrees Celsius today.

The number of days with extreme heat and tropical nights is now the second highest on record, with a week to go until August.

Lee Seung-jae has more.

A heat wave warning has been issued nationwide with sweltering temperatures making a return.

The heat wave warning was also issued for all of Seoul on Thursday, with the capital back under the highest-level notice for the first time in 11 days.

The previous heat wave warning for Seoul was issued from July 7th to the 13th.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the mercury readings for Seoul will continue to hover in the high 30s, with Friday expected to see daytime highs at 37 degrees Celsius, 38 degrees on Saturday and 37 on Sunday.

A heat wave warning is issued when the maximum perceived temperature is forecast to remain above 33 degrees for at least two consecutive days.

This summer's heat has intensified more rapidly than usual, with both daytime highs and overnight lows hitting record levels.

When compared to the same period in previous years, conditions have surpassed even the notorious summers of 1994 and 2018.

Also, the number of the days with extreme heat and tropical nights is now the second highest on record.

The sweltering summer is also leading to a rising number of heat-related illnesses.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, a total of 107 people sought emergency treatment for heat-related conditions across the country on Thursday alone, with one fatality reported in Paju, Gyeonggi-do Province.

Since May 15, the number of patients stood at 1-thousand-963, nearly 3-times higher than the same period last year.

Deaths have more than tripled from three last year to ten this year.

Heat-related illnesses are acute conditions caused by excessive heat exposure, typically accompanied by symptoms such as headache, dizziness, muscle cramps, and fatigue.

Without timely treatment, these can lead to loss of consciousness and can be life-threatening.

Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.