SEOUL, July 27 (AJP) - A relentless heat wave gripping South Korea has led to a surge in heat-related deaths, claiming over a million livestock and a growing number of human lives.
Heatwave warnings were in effect across the nation on Sunday. According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, a total of 1,011,243 livestock animals have perished this year as of July 25.
The ministry noted a sharp escalation in these numbers recently, directly attributing it to the sweltering temperatures. This year's tally represents more than a 10-fold increase compared with the same period last year, the ministry said.
On July 24 alone, 13,842 livestock animals succumbed to the heat, including 209 pigs and 13,633 poultry such as chickens and ducks.
The human toll has also escalated significantly.
The number of individuals suffering from heat-related illnesses has reached 2,183 this year, marking a 2.5-fold increase over the 871 cases reported during the same period last year.
On July 25, a man in his 50s was discovered collapsed on a street in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, around 2:20 p.m., bringing the total number of heat-related fatalities this year to 11.
The Korea Meteorological Administration has cautioned that the extreme conditions are expected to persist.
Daytime temperatures are forecast to remain around 35 degrees Celsius across the country for the time being, with many areas also experiencing "tropical nights," where temperatures do not drop below 25 degrees Celsius.
reporter
Candice Kim
candicekim1121@ajupress.com
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