By Yun Suh-young
Amid unusually high temperatures for this month the nation is struggling to offset the severest drought in over a century.
Seoul’s daytime high temperature rose to 35.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, a 12-year record for this time of year.
The cumulative rainfall in Seoul from May 1 until Tuesday totaled 10.6 mm, which is far below the year average of 171 mm and only 6.1 percent of the previous year’s average of 173.9 mm.
From May 1 to June 18, Seoul’s highest temperatures reached 26.5 degrees Celsius on average, which is 2.1 degrees Celsius higher than the yearly average.
Experts say the drought is caused by a high pressure system hovering over the peninsula for a long period. Until now the pressure trough had periodically crossed the peninsula causing rain but this year it has not moved leaving clear bright sunny skies.
“This year the high pressure remained for a long period over the country causing heat earlier than usual,” the spokesman of the Korea Meteorological Administration said. “Because of the low level of rainfall, the drought is continuing especially in the central region.”
Only when the monsoon season begins toward the end of next week will there be any relief. Until then the heat wave will continue at the current level.
Because of the unusual heat causing arid conditions, the Seoul Metropolitan Government organized an emergency board to provide water to areas in need. The city has mobilized about 500 water tankers and secured the support of 55 private vehicles to regularly spray water onto street trees, parks and other areas.
The major victims are the farmers. Farmers say that this year’s crops are reduced by 20 to 25 percent. Consequently the price of agriculture produce has also risen over the past month.
The most seriously affected is South Chungcheong Province. This year’s rainfall in the province was only 24 percent of that of last year and it had the lowest water reserve rate in the country at 30.1 percent. The average water reserve rate is 45.8 percent.
In response, the government is providing an emergency fund of 13.4 billion won to South Chungcheong Province. The provincial government already spent 9.3 billion won to provide water.
The Korea Rural Community Corporation also established water pumps in 98 reservoirs which have water reserve rates below 40 percent.
With the heat wave lowering the country’s electricity reserve rate to dangerous levels, the government is scheduled to hold a nationwide blackout exercise at 2 p.m. today.