South Korea experienced its hottest day on record on Sunday, with temperatures reaching 42.5C in the southeastern city of Yangsan. This marks the highest temperature since records began over a century ago, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).
Record-Breaking Heatwave
Yangsan has been the epicenter of the ongoing heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40C for the fifth consecutive day. The city's high temperature of 42.5C was recorded at 1:26 pm local time (0426 GMT). The KMA reported that much of South Korea has been placed under heat warnings, with temperatures climbing into the high 30C across many cities.
Emergency Heatwave Alerts
More than 20 localities were under emergency heatwave alerts on Sunday, a new category introduced this year to address rising temperatures. An emergency alert is issued when areas experiencing a heatwave are forecast to hit perceived temperatures of 38C or actual temperatures of 39C for one day. The KMA data indicate that the average annual number of heatwave days in the country has more than doubled to 19 over the past five years, up from eight in the 1970s.
Climate Change and Extreme Weather
Scientists warn that extreme weather events such as heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of human-induced climate change. The rising frequency of such events highlights the urgent need for global action to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
