The entire South Gyeongsang Province is reeling under a severe heat wave. The Korea Meteorological Administration issued a "serious heat wave alert," the highest level of heat response, for Changwon and Jinju as of 11 a.m. on the 27th, raising the number of areas under the alert in the province to nine. As the heat has persisted, causing mounting casualties including two deaths from heat-related illness, South Gyeongsang Province raised its crisis alert to the highest "serious" level and launched an emergency response.
The serious heat wave alert is the highest-level heat response measure, issued when a perceived temperature of 38 degrees or higher, or a maximum temperature of 39 degrees or higher, is expected in areas where the daily maximum perceived temperature has reached 35 degrees for two or more consecutive days. Earlier, the province's first serious heat wave alert was issued for Yangsan at 1:30 p.m. on the 25th, followed successively by alerts for Gimhae, Miryang, Haman, Changnyeong, Uiryeong and central Hapcheon.
Casualties are also rising rapidly. According to South Gyeongsang Province's emergency room surveillance system for heat-related illnesses, the cumulative number of heat-illness patients in the province from May 15 to July 25 totaled 112, including two deaths.
South Gyeongsang Province raised its heat wave crisis alert to the "serious" level and activated a disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters (Emergency Level 1) involving 20 relevant departments, strengthening its heat response together with cities and counties. The province urged residents to refrain from farm work and outdoor activities from noon to 5 p.m. and to follow heat prevention guidelines, including drinking plenty of water, resting and using cooling shelters.
The province also said that if heat-related illness is suspected, people should immediately move to a cool place and take emergency measures, and that if symptoms persist or abnormal signs such as reduced consciousness appear, they should call 119 immediately.
