WORLD

South Korea heat wave kills 16

Agence France-Presse · Aug 4, 2026, 10:59 PM

A scorching heat wave continues to grip South Korea, with residents of Guryong, one of Seoul’s last shanty towns in the affluent Gangnam district, struggling without adequate access to air conditioning. — JUNG Yeon-je/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

SEOUL (AFP) — South Korea’s summer heat has killed 16 people and sickened more than 2,000 this year, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday, as record-breaking temperatures continued to grip the country.

The ministry said 2,025 people suffered heat-related illnesses between 15 May and 2 August, with 16 deaths recorded.

South Korea’s temperature record has been broken three times in the past week, most recently with 42.5 degrees Celsius (108.5 Fahrenheit) recorded Sunday in Yangsan.

Seoul remained under the highest-level severe heat wave warning Tuesday, with temperatures forecast to approach 40 C (104 F).

“Extreme, life-threatening heat is forecast,” the weather agency said in a statement Tuesday.