No less than 16 folks have died from heat-related sicknesses in South Korea this yr, in response to well being authorities.
South Korea has shattered a 117-year report for the variety of sweltering nights in July amid a scorching heatwave.
Temperatures in Seoul didn’t dip beneath 29.3 levels Celsius (84.7 levels Fahrenheit) in a single day, marking the twenty second “tropical night time” to date this month, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) mentioned on Thursday.
The KMA defines a tropical night time as occurring when temperatures keep above 25 levels Celsius (77 levels Fahrenheit) from 6:01pm to 9am the next day.
The variety of tropical nights in July is the best since information started in 1908.
The earlier report for July was 21 tropical nights, set in 1994.
South Korea has been grappling with blistering warmth over the previous week, with each day temperatures surpassing 40 levels Celsius (104 levels Fahrenheit) in some elements of the nation.
No less than 16 folks have died from heat-related sicknesses to date this yr, in response to the Korea Illness Management and Prevention Company (KDCA).
The milestone continues a current development of scorching temperatures throughout Asia, as scientists warn that human-driven local weather change is rising the frequency of utmost climate.
On Wednesday, Japan mentioned it skilled its hottest day in recorded history after the mercury hit 41.2 levels Celsius (106.16 levels Fahrenheit) in Tamba metropolis, Hyogo prefecture.
Earlier this month, Japan and South Korea each reported that June this yr was the most popular on report, whereas China’s Nationwide Local weather Centre mentioned the nation had skilled a report variety of days with temperatures of 35 levels Celsius (95 levels Fahrenheit) or above since mid-March.
In India, the Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Authority final month issued a pink alert for New Delhi after the warmth index – which seems to be at temperature and humidity to measure perceived temperature – hit 51.9 levels Celsius (125.4 levels Fahrenheit).
In April, Myanmar’s climate company mentioned the nation skilled the most popular day ever recorded for the month when the mercury hit 48.2 levels Celsius (118.8 levels Fahrenheit) within the central city of Chauk.
Whereas local weather change is a priority worldwide, Asia has been notably prone to excessive temperatures, in response to scientists.
In its tech innovations local weather report launched final month, the World Meteorological Group mentioned Asia was warming almost twice as quick as the worldwide common.
The common temperature of Asia’s landmass final yr was about 1.04 levels Celsius (33.87 levels Fahrenheit) above the 1991-2020 development, in response to the WMO, making 2024 both the warmest or second warmest yr on report, relying on the dataset used.