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Seoul faces highest heat alert for 1st time Tuesday
Heat haze rises from a road in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
By Park Ung
An intense heat wave gripping the Korean Peninsula is shifting westward, with the greater Seoul area bracing for conditions even hotter than in past weeks and authorities rolling out measures to protect vulnerable residents.
A heat wave emergency warning, the highest alert level, will take effect at 11 a.m. Tuesday in southeastern and southwestern Seoul, Osan, Hanam and western Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province and Jangseong and northern Gokseong in South Jeolla Province, marking the first time the warning will have been issued in the greater Seoul area since the new alert system was introduced in June.
The warning is issued when a region that has already had a perceived temperature of 35 degrees Celsius or higher for at least two consecutive days is expected to reach a perceived temperature of 38 degrees or higher, or an actual temperature of 39 degrees or higher, for at least one more day.
It serves as a strong signal urging even healthy people to take extra precautions and halt outdoor work such as farming.
A map shows the highest temperature distribution across Korea as of 2:05 p.m. Monday, with daytime highs exceeding 40 degrees Celsius amid a prolonged extreme heat wave. Courtesy of the Korea Meteorological Administration
As of 3 p.m. Monday, the day's highest temperature nationwide reached 41.1 degrees Celsius in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, followed by 40.9 degrees in Daegu and 40.7 degrees in Uiryeong, South Gyeongsang Province. Seoul's highest perceived temperature reached 36.1 degrees.
The heat in western regions is expected to intensify further as low-level winds near the surface shift to easterlies, pushing the foehn phenomenon into the greater Seoul area, west of the Baekdudaegan mountain range. The range runs from Mount Paektu in the far north to Mount Jiri in the south.
The phenomenon, which occurs when wind crosses a mountain range and becomes hotter and drier on the other side, has been a major driver of the recent record heat in South Gyeongsang Province.
The intensifying heat is already taking a toll. As of Saturday, 1,889 people had suffered heat-related illnesses and 14 had died, with the toll expected to climb further. On Monday, Incheon reported its first heat-related death of the year, while a man in his 70s died in Busan in a suspected heat-related death.
With the heat wave forecast to worsen further, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held an emergency response meeting Monday. Heat wave alerts have been in effect in the city since July 23 and highs and perceived temperatures are both expected to reach 37 degrees this week.
To reach the most vulnerable, the city's visiting nurses are checking on about 63,000 residents, including elderly people living alone, people with disabilities and those with chronic illnesses.
Seoul is also spraying water on 1,982 kilometers of roads using 205 water trucks to ease the urban heat island effect, with trucks running up to six times a day in high-traffic areas when a heat wave warning is in effect.
Some local governments are turning to drones to reach residents in areas that are harder to cover on the ground.
North Gyeongsang Province is flying drones equipped with loudspeakers and thermal imaging cameras over areas crowded with summer vacationers, broadcasting heat safety guidelines.
In Hwasun County, South Jeolla Province, local officials have partnered with a local drone soccer club to patrol 13 towns daily, advising residents to avoid outdoor work during peak heat hours.
While the heat wave persists, residents are advised to avoid outdoor activities, especially between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. and to rest in a shaded area or shelter. Water or sports drinks are recommended over caffeinated beverages or alcohol.