As of 11 a.m. on July 29, a heat wave warning has been issued for the southeastern, northeastern, and southwestern districts of Seoul. This marks the second heat wave warning of the summer, occurring 18 days after the first warning was issued on July 11. The areas affected include all 19 districts except for the northwestern districts of Mapo, Seodaemun, and Eunpyeong, as well as the central districts of Jongno, Jung, and Yongsan.
In response to the heat wave warning, the Seoul city government elevated its heat response alert level from 'Caution (Level 1)' to 'Alert (Level 2).' Additionally, the city has expanded its comprehensive heat support situation room from five teams to eight to enhance emergency response measures.
The districts under the heat wave warning include Gangdong, Songpa, Gangnam, and Seocho in the southeastern region, as well as Jungnang, Seongdong, Gwangjin, Dobong, Nowon, Gangbuk, Seongbuk, and Dongdaemun in the northeastern region, and Gangseo, Yangcheon, Guro, Yeongdeungpo, Dongjak, Gwanak, and Geumcheon in the southwestern region. A heat wave warning is issued when the maximum perceived temperature is expected to exceed 35 degrees Celsius for more than two consecutive days.
Accordingly, the city has added traffic management, facility recovery, and disaster communication teams to the existing situation room, which now operates with eight teams. This comprehensive support situation room will monitor weather conditions, damage reports, and the protection status of vulnerable populations and facilities in real-time.
On the previous day, the city held a joint inspection meeting led by the head of the Disaster Safety Office to review the operation of the emergency response system and the status of heat-related illnesses. The meeting focused on the operation of heat relief centers, protection of vulnerable populations, safety management for outdoor workers, and the operation of heat mitigation facilities, while also strengthening the emergency communication system among relevant agencies and enhancing on-site checks in vulnerable areas.
Measures to protect vulnerable populations have also been strengthened. For elderly individuals in need of care, the city will check in via phone, and if contact cannot be made, officials will visit to assess their health. In areas with a high concentration of homeless individuals, the city will increase staffing and enhance counseling and patrol efforts.
During the heat wave advisory period, 24 district government buildings, excluding Gangbuk, will be open 24 hours as cooling centers. Gangbuk is excluded from this due to space constraints as it is currently using a temporary office while a new building is being constructed.
For construction sites commissioned by the city, outdoor work will be suspended from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., except for urgent safety tasks. The city plans to guide similar heat response measures for private construction sites.
Choi Jin-seok, head of the Seoul Disaster Safety Office, stated, “As the heat wave continues, the risk of heat-related illnesses among citizens is increasing. We will prioritize the lives and safety of citizens and ensure that our heat response measures are effectively implemented on the ground. We urge everyone to minimize outdoor activities and pay special attention to hydration and rest for their health.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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