Seoul: The number of people suffering heat-related illnesses has surged more than 83 percent from a year earlier as a heat wave hit the country earlier than normal this year, data showed Monday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) had identified 875 such patients as of Sunday this year, up 83.2 percent from the corresponding tally for the same period last year. The KDCA began tracking the number of heat-related patients on May 15.
According to Yonhap News Agency, of the 875 patients, seven people died presumably from a heatstroke, compared with three deaths in 2024, the KDCA reported. Earlier in the day, the state weather agency issued the season's first heat wave warning for all of Seoul.
The year's first warning came 18 days earlier than last year, when the country endured the worst heat wave ever. A heat wave warning is issued when the highest sensible temperature is expected to reach 35 degrees Celsius or higher for two or more consecutive days or when major damage is anticipated from the heat.