South Korea registers record high air temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius

South Korea experienced a scorching 42.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, marking the highest temperature recorded in over a century. The extreme heatwave has its epicenter in Yangsan, where the temperature reached this record high at 1:26 PM local time. This marks the fifth consecutive day that temperatures have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in the region.

In response to the unprecedented heat, authorities issued an "extreme heatwave" warning for over 20 populated areas. This new warning category, introduced this year, is issued when temperatures are predicted to reach 38 degrees Celsius or higher, feeling like 38 or an actual 39 degrees. The meteorological administration urged citizens to "immediately stop all outdoor activities" and warned that "indoor spaces without air conditioning are dangerous."

The average number of heatwave days in South Korea has more than doubled in the past five years, rising to 19 days annually compared to eight days in the 1970s. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like heatwaves to human-induced climate change.

This phenomenon is compounded by the return of El Niño this year, a natural climate pattern that warms Pacific Ocean surface temperatures. Meanwhile, Europe is also enduring a sweltering summer with prolonged heatwaves, leading to health warnings and widespread wildfires, particularly in southern regions where temperatures have also surpassed 40 degrees Celsius.