Stop all outdoor activities’: South Korea records its highest ever temperature

South Korea has recorded its highest temperature since modern weather observation began in 1904, with the southeastern city of Yangsan reaching 42.5C on Sunday. Authorities have issued an urgent warning for people to cease all outdoor activities, stating that indoor spaces without air conditioning are dangerous. Yangsan has experienced temperatures exceeding 40C for five consecutive days, prompting many to seek refuge in air-conditioned public spaces. Over 20 localities are under an emergency heatwave alert, a new category introduced this year. The Korea Meteorological Administration advised people to move to cool places, stay hydrated, and rest. The frequency of heatwave days in South Korea has more than doubled in the past five years, with scientists attributing such extreme weather events to climate change and the return of El Niño.

South Korea has recorded its highest temperature on record, reaching 42.5 degrees Celsius (108.5F) in Yangsan on Sunday, amid a severe heatwave. This event is part of a global pattern of extreme weather, including droughts, wildfires, floods, and storms, which scientists attribute to the climate crisis driven by human activity. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reported that Yangsan experienced five consecutive days above 40C. Heat warnings are in effect across much of the country, with over 20 localities under emergency alerts, a category introduced this year due to increasingly severe summer temperatures. The KMA notes that the average annual number of heatwave days has more than doubled in the past five years compared to the 1970s, with scientists emphasizing that climate change is intensifying these events.