13 people die from heat in South Korea
The number of deaths from the effects of abnormal heat in South Korea since the beginning of the season has reached 13 people.
This is reported by SBS News, citing the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
According to the agency, from May 15 to July 31, 1,781 cases of heat-related illnesses were registered in the country. On July 31, 72 people sought treatment at emergency departments of about 500 hospitals, with no new deaths recorded.
The most cases were recorded in Gyeonggi-do Province - 372. In Gyeongsangbuk-do, 182 cases were registered, in Gyeongnam - 161, in Seoul - 158. At the same time, the number of patients in Gyeongnam exceeded that of Seoul for the first time.
In Gyeongnam Province, the temperature in the city of Yangsan reached 41.6 degrees, setting a new record since observations began. The maximum level of risk of heat-related diseases in South Korea will remain until August 4.
According to the Yonhap News Agency, against the backdrop of extreme heat, the South Korean government activated the second level of operational response of the headquarters for eliminating the consequences of natural disasters. This is the first case in three years - since August 2023.
