Korea braces for extreme heat wave this week as temperatures set to reach 40 degrees

An extreme heat wave is anticipated to linger and bake the Korean Peninsula this week, with parts of the country possibly seeing temperatures rise as high as 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

Children stand in a fountain at a park in Suwon, Gyeonggi, on Sunday as they beat the extreme heat wave that continued to strike the country. The midday high in Yeoju, Gyeonggi, rose to 40 degrees Celsius on the same day, the first time in six years that temperatures reached 40 degrees in the country. [YONHAP]

An extreme heat wave is anticipated to linger and bake the Korean Peninsula this week, with parts of the country possibly seeing temperatures rise as high as 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

The daytime high in Yeoju, Gyeonggi, rose to 40 degrees Celsius at 3:33 p.m. Sunday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). This marks the first time in six years that temperatures in Korea have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius.

Other parts of Gyeonggi also experienced sweltering weather, with temperatures reaching 39.3 degrees in Yangpyeong, 38.7 degrees in Anseong and 38.6 degrees in Yongin. The Gangnam District in southern Seoul also saw the mercury rise to 38 degrees Celsius on the same day.

According to weather agencies, two massive high-pressure air masses, responsible for the extreme heat wave, are expected to continue covering the country's atmosphere.

"The heat wave is expected to peak this week, with several areas seeing temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius," an official at weather forecast company K weather told the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Heat wave warnings and advisories have been issued in Seoul for 12 consecutive days, Gangneung for 17 days and Jeju for 20 days.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Sunday that at least three people are suspected to have died from the heat the day before.

Around 1,400 patients have suffered from heat-related illnesses since May 20 this year, with 11 suspected to have died from extreme heat. Five of these suspected deaths occurred on Friday and Saturday. Symptoms of the illnesses included heat exhaustion, heat stroke and febrile seizures.

A woman in her 50s who worked in a field in Changwon, South Gyeongsang, died after being transferred to a hospital on Saturday. Her body temperature rose to 41 degrees Celsius.

On the same day, another woman in her 70s in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang, was transferred to a hospital on Saturday but died from suspected heat stroke.

According to KDCA data, a total of 384 patients suffering from heat-related illnesses were reported at 507 hospitals nationwide from Monday to Friday last week as the intense heat wave struck the Korean Peninsula following the end of the monsoon season. On Thursday alone, 114 patients were treated at hospitals as heat wave warnings were issued across most of the peninsula.

The KDCA advised the public to drink water frequently and refrain from outdoor activities during hot daytime hours.

As the heat wave continued, the government on Sunday advised farmers not to work during daytime hours. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, a total of 242 farmers have suffered from heat-related illnesses this year, resulting in two deaths. A 67-year-old farmer in Miryang, South Gyeongsang, where the apparent temperature reached 37.6 degrees Celsius, died from the heat after being transferred to a hospital on Friday.

In Seoul, five spectators at the baseball match between the Doosan Bears and Kiwoom Heroes at Jamsil Baseball Stadium reportedly suffered from heat-related illnesses on Saturday. Four of them were transferred to hospitals.

On Monday, midday highs nationwide are anticipated to hover between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius, with morning lows ranging between 23 and 28 degrees, the KMA said.

Rain showers may fall between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday in the greater Seoul area, including in Gyeonggi and Incheon, South Chungcheong, the Jeolla region and Jeju.

The inland areas of Gangwon, North Chungcheong and the Gyeongsang region may also experience intermittent rains between noon and 9 p.m. the same day. The rain showers are expected to raise humidity and apparent temperatures.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO, JEONG EUN-HYE [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]