South Korea: Heat-related illnesses spikes 83 per cent on-year
Of the 875 patients, seven people presumably died from heatstroke, compared with three deaths in 2023.
SEOUL - The number of people suffering heat-related illnesses has surged by more than 83 per cent from a year earlier as a heatwave hit the country earlier than usual this year, data showed on Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) had identified 875 such patients as of Sunday this year, up 83.2 per cent from the corresponding tally for the same period last year.
The KDCA began tracking the number of heat-related patients on May 15.
Of the 875 patients, seven people presumably died from heatstroke, compared with three deaths in 2023, the KDCA said.
Earlier in the day, the state weather agency issued the season's first heatwave warning for all of Seoul.
This year’s first warning came 18 days earlier than last year, when the country experienced its worst heatwave on record.
A heatwave warning is issued when the highest sensible temperature is expected to reach 35 degrees Celsius or higher for two or more consecutive days, or when major damage is anticipated from the heat. - BERNAMA-YONHAP
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