Heat wave warning alert level raised to "serious"

With the country grappling with an extreme heat wave, the heat wave alert for South Korea has been raised to its highest level.

With temperatures today reaching 37 degrees Celsius in Seoul, the extreme heat is expected to persist through the weekend.

Byeon Ye-young has more.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on Friday that its national heat wave alert level has been raised to "serious," its highest level.

The "serious" level is issued when over 40% of the country is expected to experience a daily maximum perceived temperature of 35 degrees Celsius or higher for more than three consecutive days.

As of 10 AM on Friday, heat wave advisories were issued for 180 out of 183 designated regions nationwide.

Level 1 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters was also activated as of 2 PM, marking the initial stage of disaster responses.

Temperatures across the nation rose to as high as 37°C, with the scorching heat forecast to persist through the weekend.

Seoul is forecast to see highs of 38°C on Saturday, and 37°C on Sunday.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's heat-related illness monitoring system, a total of 1,979 people have been affected by heat-related illnesses so far since May 15, including 10 presumed deaths.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters has called for pan-government efforts to minimize damage from the extreme heat.

The CDSCH ordered strengthened protection measures for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, farmers, and "shanty town" residents, as well as enhanced supervision to ensure heat illness prevention guidelines are followed at construction sites and crowded outdoor events.

The authorities were also instructed to actively operate cooling shelters and heat-reducing facilities, and to thoroughly manage fire risks and electricity supply amid the surge in air conditioner use.

The Korea Meteorological Administration has also urged the public to refrain from outdoor activities due to the high risk of heat-related illnesses.

Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.