KOR
▲ Citizens play in a fountain at Yangsan Water Park in Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, on the afternoon of the 31st, as temperatures in the Yangsan region soared to 41.4°C (106.5°F).
As record-breaking heatwaves continue, centered mainly around the Yeongnam region, an additional death presumed to be caused by a heat-related illness has been reported.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), a total of 56 people visited emergency rooms at about 500 hospitals nationwide yesterday (the 30th) due to heat-related illnesses, and one of them died.
The deceased was a man in his 20s residing in Busan who was rushed to the emergency room from his home and was reportedly suffering from an underlying medical condition.
This brings the cumulative number of patients recorded under this year's heat-related illness surveillance system from May 15 until yesterday to 1,701.
The total number of deaths stands at 13.
Among the heat-related illness patients tallied yesterday, Gyeonggi Province reported the highest number with 9, followed by Gyeongsangnam-do with 7, where Yangsan recorded a high temperature of 40.3°C (104.5°F) yesterday.
Today, temperatures in Yangsan soared to 41.4°C (106.5°F), breaking the record for the highest temperature since weather observations began.
The vast majority of all heat-related illness patients this summer were men (77.6%), and by age group, those aged 65 and older accounted for roughly one-third (31.6%).
By type of illness, heat exhaustion accounted for the largest share at 61.1%, followed by heatstroke at 16.3% and heat cramps at 12.2%.
The majority of heat-related illnesses occurred outdoors (79.4%), including workplaces (26.6%).
With the current heat wave forecasted to continue at least until next week, the risk level for heat-related illnesses will remain at Level 4, the highest tier, nationwide through the 3rd of next month.
Level 4 signifies a situation where "significant damage is expected due to the widespread occurrence of heat-related illnesses in most areas."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
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