SEOUL, July 26 (AJP) — South Korea's peak summer vacation season opened under suffocating heat on Sunday, with the heat index approaching 38 degrees Celsius across parts of the country's south, prompting heat-related deaths, livestock losses and a mass exodus to beaches and water parks.
The Korea Meteorological Administration maintained its highest-level heat warnings across parts of North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, South Jeolla and Daegu, where apparent temperatures climbed to around 38C.
Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, recorded an afternoon high of 39.3C, surpassing the previous day's 39.1C and marking one of the hottest temperatures of the summer. Seoul, the greater capital region, Gangwon, Chungcheong and Jeju also endured heat indices near 36C.
The prolonged heat wave has begun taking a growing human toll.
A Thai farm worker in his 30s collapsed while working in a field in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, on Friday and later died after being taken to hospital in what authorities suspect was heatstroke. Earlier this month, an octogenarian woman in Jeju also died after suffering heat-related illness.
Several other workers required emergency treatment over the weekend, including a fisherman who collapsed while hauling fishing nets off Yeosu.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 1,232 people had been treated for heat-related illnesses nationwide this year as of July 23, with five fatalities reported.
The heat has also devastated livestock farms.
Nearly 20,000 animals, including chickens, ducks and pigs, had died from heat stress in North Chungcheong Province alone by July 24, forcing farmers to operate cooling pads, ventilation systems and ice supplies around the clock.
The heat offered little relief overnight.
Most regions recorded tropical nights between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with temperatures remaining above 25C, while Busan experienced its seventh consecutive tropical night.
Despite the dangerous conditions, beaches, rivers and water parks were packed as families sought relief during the busiest holiday period of the year.
Major beaches including Haeundae, Gwangalli and Songjeong in Busan remained crowded after attracting more than 366,000 visitors on Saturday. Jeju's Hamdeok, Hyeopjae and Jungmun beaches also saw large crowds, while surfers filled Songjeong Beach and tourists flocked to Gangneung's Gyeongpo Beach and Sokcho on the east coast.
The Boryeong Mud Festival, which opened Friday, also drew large numbers of visitors to Daecheon Beach.
In contrast, downtown streets in Daegu, Pohang and Gyeongju were noticeably quieter as residents avoided the blistering afternoon sun, opting instead for shopping malls, department stores and indoor cultural venues.
Forecasters expect the intense heat to persist into the coming week, with tropical nights likely to continue across much of the country.
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