South Korea issued its first-ever emergency heatwave alert on Sunday under a new warning system launched this year, advising people to halt outdoor activities and keep cool.The new warning system was introduced to better deal with a rising number of heatwaves in South Korea, which have become longer and more intense, officials said.An emergency alert is issued when areas experiencing a heatwave are forecast to hit perceived temperatures of 38°C or an actual temperature of 39°C for one day.“The Korea Meteorological Administration issued an Emergency Heatwave Warning at 10am today for two cities in southern North Gyeongsang Province – Gyeongsan and Pohang,” said agency chief Lee Mi-seon at a press briefing.“This marks the first time it has been issued since the system took effect,” she added.The affected areas saw temperatures reach the emergency criteria over the weekend.
South Korea under emergency advisory as heatwave days increase
Scientists warn that extreme weather events such as heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of human-induced climate change.
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