SEOUL — Nearly 400 individuals were taken to hospital emergency rooms for treatment of heat-related illnesses during weekdays last week, as South Korea experiences an intense heat wave following the conclusion of the annual monsoon season.
According to Yonhap News Agency, 507 hospitals nationwide reported a total of 384 cases of heat-related illnesses from Monday to Friday, with the highest single-day count of 114 occurring on Thursday. The data also noted that four deaths suspected to be caused by the heat occurred during this period; one in Seoul and one in Busan on Tuesday, and two others in the Gyeongsang provinces on Friday.
The country has been suffering from extraordinary high temperatures since last week, with the mercury frequently exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. The city of Yangsan in the southeast reported a near-record temperature close to 40 degrees Celsius on Saturday. This prolonged heat is causing significant health impacts, prompting increased vigilance from public health officials and emergency services.