Seoul Issues First 'Severe Heatwave Warning' Amid Scorching Temperatures; City Goes All-Out with Water Spray Trucks

As scorching heatwaves continued in Seoul day after day, the city issued its first-ever severe heatwave warning today (August 4).

Closely monitoring the situation, including an increase in heat-related illnesses due to the extreme heat, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has gone all-out to respond by protecting vulnerable groups such as residents in jjogbangchon (infarmal lodging areas) and spraying water on roads.

The Korea Meteorological Administration announced that a severe heatwave warning would take effect for the southeastern and southwestern districts of Seoul starting at 11:00 AM today.

Consequently, a total of 11 autonomous districts fell under the advisory's affected zones, including Gangnam, Songpa, Seocho, and Gangdong districts in the southeast, and Gangseo, Gwanak, Yangcheon, Guro, Dongjak, Yeongdeungpo, and Geumcheon districts in the southwest.

A severe heatwave warning is issued when the highest perceived temperature is 38°C (100°F) or higher, or when the highest temperature is 39°C (102°F) or higher in areas where the highest perceived temperature of 35°C (95°F) or higher has persisted for two or more consecutive days.

This marks the first time a severe heatwave warning has been issued for the Seoul region since the system was implemented on June 1.

In an emergency text message sent today, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced the issuance of the severe heatwave warning, urging citizens to "refrain from going out and outdoor activities, stay well-hydrated, rest in cool places, and check on the safety of family members."

Currently, regular heatwave warnings remain in effect for the northeastern districts of Seoul for the 7th consecutive day and for the northwestern districts for the 3rd consecutive day.

Tropical night advisories, which were first issued for the southeastern and southwestern districts on July 23 and expanded to the northeastern and northwestern districts on July 24, have remained in effect across all of Seoul for 11 days through today.

As the heatwave intensifies, an additional 18 heat-related illness cases were reported in Seoul the previous day, according to official statistics from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

This brings Seoul's cumulative total of heat-related illnesses since May 15 to 185, including 2 deaths.

In response to the prolonged heatwave, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has reinforced emergency operations and is mobilizing all resources to tackle the heat.

The city is maintaining its heatwave crisis alert level at "Alert" (Phase 2), expanding its comprehensive heatwave response situation room into 8 divisions to prevent heat-related damage.

In particular, the city is focusing its efforts on sector-specific measures, including protecting vulnerable groups such as the homeless and residents in jjogbangchon, operating cooling shelters, and managing the safety of outdoor workers.

To cope with the midday heat, the city is operating about 4,000 cooling shelters citywide, including community service centers, senior centers, and welfare centers. It is also stepping up heat management by running around 414 Climate Companion Shelters at convenience stores and banks, 62 emergency evacuation shelters in public facilities, 30 shelters for mobile workers, and 5,249 heat-reduction facilities.

Additionally, the city is operating 187 cooling fog systems and 14 cooling roads in urban areas, while deploying street cleaning and water spray trucks to major roads to cool down the urban heat.

Visiting a heatwave field site today, Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon said, "Heatwave countermeasures should not stop at expanding facilities like cooling shelters and shade canopies, but should extend to directly visiting and protecting citizens who actually live and work in the heat," pledging to strengthen the heatwave safety net.

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