At least 11 deaths linked to scorching heat wave
Amid an intense heat wave in South Korea that shows no signs of abating, a government estimate suggested Sunday that the number of suspected heat-related deaths has almost tripled compared to last year.
From May 20 until Friday, the government's daily estimate showed that 11 deaths were suspected to be heat-related. The figure is nearly three times higher than the four recorded in the same period last year.
In the latest incident, a pedestrian in his 50s died at around 3 p.m. Friday after he collapsed in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.
By region, Gyeonggi Province saw three deaths, while South Chungcheong Province and North Gyeongsang Province reported two deaths each. A total of four deaths were reported in Seoul, Busan, North Jeolla Province and South Gyeongsang Province, according to the estimate by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
The government also estimated that nearly 2,200 people experienced heat wave-related illnesses in the same period, up more than twofold on-year. Eighty-seven of the cases were reported on Friday alone.
With the mercury rising above 37 degrees Celsius on Sunday, the Korea Meteorological Administration's forecast suggested that the heat wave, defined as successive days when the high tops 35 C, will likely last until Thursday.
Korea is currently under the influence of double high-pressure systems, as the Ministry of Interior and Safety on Friday estimated that over 40 percent of South Korea's territory would see highs of 35 C over the next three days. The same day, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters entered Level 1 emergency operations -- the lowest of the three-tiered system.
On Sunday, heat wave advisories or warnings were in effect in 180 out of 183 weather zones across the country.
The coastal city of Gangneung in Gangwon Province saw the highest temperature as of 2 p.m., reaching 37.2 C, followed by 36.7 C in Seoul; 36.6 C in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province; and 36.4 C in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, according to the weather authorities.
The apparent temperature -- reflecting how hot it feels to the human body -- hit 38 C in Paju, Gyeonggi Province; 37.1 C in Ganghwado Island of Incheon; 36.2 C in Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province; 36.1 C in Gangneung, Gangwon Province; and 35 C in Seoul, as of 1 p.m. Sunday.
On Saturday, the mercury topped 40 C in some regions, with Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, marking a high of 41.3 C.
In Seoul, daily highs are forecast to reach 35 C or higher through Thursday, then dipping below 35 C starting Friday due to increased cloud cover.
Seoul will also endure tropical nights, as nighttime temperatures will stay above 26 C throughout the week. The daily lows in the capital are forecast to be around 27 C on Monday and 28 C on Wednesday.
The heat wave, coupled with heavy downpours in mid-July, has caused significant crop damage, resulting in a spike in food prices.
According to data from the state-run Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation, as of Friday, the retail price of a head of cabbage rose more than 50 percent from a month earlier to 5,436 won, while a kilogram of spinach rose by more than 153 percent to 22,760 won. A kilogram of lettuce retailed for 12,690 won, up 31.5 percent from the previous month.
The KMA estimated that South Korea experienced 9.5 days of heat wave conditions from June 1 until last Tuesday, which was the second-highest number recorded since 1973.
Meanwhile, according to the Interior Ministry as of Sunday morning, South Korea had enough capacity to cover the 81.5 gigawatts of electricity demand during the peak hours expected Sunday evening.
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