Highest-level heat warnings issued for southeastern Korea
Haeundae Beach in Busan is crowded with people, Sunday. Yonhap
The weather agency on Sunday issued grave heat wave warnings for Daegu and other southeastern parts of Korea as temperatures climbed well above 30 C.
The highest-level heat warnings took effect for southwestern parts of Daegu, and the nearby city of Gyeongsan and the county of Cheongdo at 11 a.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.
The southeastern cities of Pohang and Gyeongju had already been placed under the highest-level heat warnings earlier in the day.
As of 1 p.m., temperatures had reached 38.4 C in Gyeongju, 35.4 C in Daegu and 32.1 C in Pohang.
It marked the latest issuance of the highest heat warnings since the weather agency adopted a new heat warning system on June 1 to alert the public to extreme heat.
A highest-level heat warning is issued when the daily high is forecast to reach 39 C or higher in areas where the apparent temperature has reached 35 C or higher for at least two consecutive days.
Korea issued its first highest-level heat warnings for Gyeongsan and Pohang on July 12.