Pohang Under 'Serious' Heat Wave Warning: Beaches and Valleys Crowded, City Life Comes to a Standstill

[It is much cooler just by feeling the breeze, so we come here often to escape the heat.]

On July 12, as the first 'serious' heat wave warning of the year was issued in the country, the city of Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province was bustling with people seeking refuge from the heat at beaches and valleys.

Vacationers cooled off under shade sails along coastal roads, enjoying the sea breeze, while families flocked to nearby valleys.

In contrast, the city center, open fields, and construction sites, scorched by intense heat, were quiet and nearly deserted.

The stark contrast between those seeking leisure and the daily life that came to a halt due to the heat was evident across Pohang under the serious heat wave warning.

Around 12:00 p.m. on the same day, along the coastal road in Yonghan-ri, Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu, Pohang.

A woman in her 60s met at the scene said she had come out with her husband for a combination of an outing and a summer getaway.

The shoulder of the coastal road stretching from Yonghan-ri Beach to the Yeongilman Industrial Complex was lined with vehicles, including camping cars.

Vacationers who arrived in camping cars often set up awnings attached to their vehicles, while those in standard passenger cars or SUVs set up shade sails or tents to rest.

Although the direct sunlight and high humidity made it difficult to breathe outdoors, the shade provided a relatively cool breeze.

Vacationers sat in chairs, listening to music or watching videos on their phones, and enjoyed a leisurely lunch with food they had packed.

The area is known among Pohang residents and locals as a popular spot for outings and cooling off, as it is located on an uphill road that offers scenic views and has wide roads and shoulders.

A Pohang resident in his 50s explained, "It is the perfect place to come with family, cool off in the seawater, and spend the day catching clams."

In particular, visitors began to arrive in larger numbers after the first serious heat wave warning for Pohang was issued at 10:00 a.m. that morning.

Tourists and citizens were also seen at Yeongildae Beach, located near the city center of Pohang.

However, perhaps due to the intense heat, few people were seen entering the water.

An official from a company that rents out beach umbrellas and wooden platforms said, "Perhaps because yesterday, July 11, was the first day the beach opened, quite a few people came, but today it seems like less than a quarter of yesterday's crowd."

On the other hand, many people were resting in the shade of the windbreak forest lining the beach, spreading out mats or setting up chairs to read books or take a nap.

A woman in her 40s from Gumi said, "I came with my family, and it is nice because it is cooler than I expected with the breeze blowing in the shade."

Valleys near Oksanseowon in Angang-eup, Gyeongju, close to Pohang, were also crowded with visitors from the morning.

Families spread out mats in the shade to share food or cooled off by dipping their feet in the water.

A man in his 30s from Pohang said, "With the tropical nights continuing and the weather being so hot, I came out to the valley with my family."

Pohang has recorded tropical nights, where the overnight low temperature remains at or above 25°C (77°F), for six consecutive days.

While vacationers gathered at tourist spots, the fields in Yeonil-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang, visited during the day, were completely empty.

Despite the cultivation of various vegetables, grains, and fruits such as chives, corn, and watermelons, it was difficult to find anyone working in the greenhouses or fields.

As of 2:00 p.m. that day, the daily high temperature in Pohang reached 36.2°C (97°F).

Consequently, when passing near the fields, the heat radiating from the ground could be felt throughout the body.

Even in the shade under road bridges, where vacationers are occasionally seen, the air was stifling with no cooling breeze, and no visitors were visible.

Due to the holiday and the intense heat, the sound of machinery was absent from various construction sites in the Pohang area and companies in the Pohang Steel Industrial Complex, with the exception of some facilities that must operate daily.

Traffic and pedestrians on major roads in downtown Pohang, including Yeongilman-daero, were also reduced compared to weekdays.

A Pohang resident in his 40s said, "On a day this hot, it is better to just stay at home."

Following the issuance of the serious heat wave warning, the city of Pohang has urged citizens to refrain from outdoor activities in fields, farms, and construction sites, and to follow heat wave safety guidelines.

The city is also operating 677 cooling centers, including 643 senior citizen centers, 5 outdoor cooling shelters, and 29 public facilities. It has also set up 277 shade structures and 3 cooling fog systems in major downtown areas and at crosswalks.

In line with the serious heat wave warning, the city has recommended the suspension of outdoor work, except for emergency operations, and has deployed 6 water sprinkler trucks to spray water on major downtown roads.

Pohang Mayor Park Yong-sun stated, "As long as the heat wave continues, we will maintain an emergency response system and continue to promote the protection of vulnerable groups, the operation of cooling centers, on-site monitoring, the operation of heat reduction facilities, downtown water spraying, and heat wave prevention campaigns."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.