South Korea Records All-Time High of 42.5°C Amid Historic Heatwave
What Happened
South Korea recorded its highest temperature since weather records began in 1904, with the southeastern city of Yangsan reaching 42.5°C. The city experienced temperatures above 40°C for five consecutive days, while more than 20 regions were placed under emergency heatwave alerts. South Korea's government has described the heatwave as a national disaster, with at least 19 deaths and over 2,000 heat-related illness cases reported this summer.
Key Takeaways
Extreme heat is becoming a major climate and public health challenge, even in countries not traditionally associated with severe heatwaves.