[Anchor]

The extreme heatwave that scorched the Yeongnam region has shifted to western areas, including the Seoul capital area. A severe heatwave warning has been issued for the capital region for the first time, with temperatures in Seoul forecasted to hover around 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout this week.

Reporter Seo Donggyun has the details.

[Reporter]

Today, the mercury in Seoul soared to 36.7°C (98.1°F), marking the highest temperature of the year.

[Kim Eun-ryul / Seodaemun-gu, Seoul: It takes your breath away and makes you just want to stay inside, but you have to carry a parasol because you feel like you might die without one.]

[Kim Saem-ha / Seodaemun-gu, Seoul: Walking around outside with the sunlight and humidity is just so tough.]

Looking at the area around Yeouido Hangang Park through a thermal imaging camera, not only the asphalt roads but even the park appear glowing red.

Surface temperatures reach up to 50°C (122°F).

Buildings baked in the sunlight all day are displayed in deep red.

The highest tier of heatwave advisories, a severe heatwave warning, has been issued for parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

This is the first time a severe heatwave warning has been issued for the capital area.

While scorching heat continues in the Yeongnam region with Goryeong in North Gyeongsang Province hitting 41.2°C (106.2°F) and Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province reaching 41°C (105.8°F), easterly winds crossing the mountain ranges starting today are pumping hot air into the western regions.

Severe heatwave warnings have also been issued across various parts of South Jeolla Province, including Gwangyang, which recorded 41.1°C (106.0°F), as well as Gwangju.

Yangsan in South Gyeongsang Province, which had broken all-time weather observation records by exceeding 40°C (104°F) for five consecutive days, stopped at 39.4°C (102.9°F) today.

With another death reported in Incheon, the number of people who have died from heat-related illnesses this year has risen to 16.

Cumulative heat-related illnesses have surpassed 2,000.

Typhoon Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of the season, is moving westward over the ocean about 2,200 kilometers away from South Korea.

Dolphin is expected to pass through the waters west of Okinawa, Japan, around Saturday this week, but it remains unclear whether it will affect the Korean Peninsula's pressure system.

(Video reporting: Seol Chi-hwan, Kim Se-kyung | Video editing: Lee Seung-jin | Design: Seo Hyun-jung, Im Chan-hyeok)