Seoul's southeastern and southwestern regions have issued the first heat wave warning of the summer. In response, the city has elevated its heat wave alert level and expanded its emergency response system to ensure citizen safety.
According to the Seoul city government, the heat advisory issued at 11 a.m. on July 11 was upgraded to a heat wave warning at 2 p.m. This warning comes four days later than last year's first heat wave warning, which was recorded on July 7.
The areas under the warning include four districts in the southeastern region (Songpa, Gangnam, Seocho, and Gangdong) and seven districts in the southwestern region (Gangseo, Gwanak, Yangcheon, Guro, Dongjak, Yeongdeungpo, and Geumcheon). The rest of Seoul remains under the existing heat advisory. A heat wave warning is issued when the maximum perceived temperature is expected to exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two days, while a heat advisory is issued when it is expected to exceed 91 degrees Fahrenheit.
Following the issuance of the warning, the city immediately raised its crisis alert level from 'caution' to 'alert.' The Comprehensive Heat Wave Support Situation Room has also expanded from five teams (situation management, living support, energy recovery, medical response, and rescue) to eight teams by adding traffic management, facility recovery, and disaster communication teams. The situation room will monitor weather conditions and damage in real-time to ensure a comprehensive response.
All 25 autonomous districts in the city are activating their own situation rooms and collaborating closely with the city to stock emergency relief supplies and check cooling facilities. To help citizens escape the heat, public buildings such as district offices will be open 24 hours as cooling centers. However, Gangbuk District, which is currently using a temporary office due to the construction of a new building, will not be included in this initiative.
Efforts to closely monitor vulnerable populations who are at risk of heat exposure will also be intensified. For elderly individuals in need of care, city officials will check in via phone regularly, and if contact cannot be made, a staff member will visit their residence to assess their health. In areas with a high concentration of homeless individuals, dedicated personnel will be increased to enhance patrols and provide counseling.
Protective measures for outdoor construction workers, who are at high risk for heat-related illnesses during the summer, will also be implemented. For city-funded construction sites, outdoor work will be completely halted from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., except in emergencies. Private construction sites will be encouraged to provide adequate rest periods and establish break areas for workers, with ongoing recommendations and inspections.
Additionally, the city is actively informing citizens about preventive measures against heat-related damage through outdoor electronic billboards, safety text messages, and the city’s website.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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