South Korea records highest temperature since 1904 at 42.5°C

South Korea registered its highest temperature on record Sunday, with the mercury soaring to 42.5°C in the southeastern city of Yangsan. This reading marks the highest temperature recorded in the country since meteorological measurements began in 1904. The extreme heat occurred in a city near the major port of Busan.

In response to the unprecedented heat, South Korea's national meteorological agency issued a maximum heatwave alert for the first time since the alert system was established. Agency director Lee Mi-seon stated that this maximum alert signifies conditions where even healthy individuals face a substantially elevated risk of severe health issues, including heat-related illnesses and fatalities.

The country is experiencing a dramatic increase in extreme heat. The average number of heatwave days per year has risen from eight in the 1970s to 19 over the past five years. A heatwave day is defined as a day where the maximum temperature reaches at least 33°C.