City activates heat wave operations center, opens 9,851 cooling facilities

Scorching heat to continue Tuesday with highs of 33 C in Seoul

A heat wave shelter called "Happiso," set up by the Seoul Metropolitan Government at Gwanghwamun Square, is seen Monday as sweltering weather continues. [Yonhap]
A heat wave shelter called "Happiso," set up by the Seoul Metropolitan Government at Gwanghwamun Square, is seen Monday as sweltering weather continues. [Yonhap]

By Jung Joo-won, The Herald Business

Ten people in Seoul suffered heat-related illness Monday as the city came under its first citywide heat wave advisory of the summer.

According to KDCA official statistics, 10 heat-related illness cases were recorded in Seoul through 4 p.m. Monday. The cumulative total since May 15 stands at 68, including one fatality.

This marks the first time a heat wave advisory has been issued across all of Seoul. An earlier advisory on June 19 had covered only the southeastern and southwestern districts of the city. The Seoul Metropolitan Government activated a Level 1 emergency response at 11 a.m. Monday, simultaneous with the advisory taking effect, deploying a heat wave operations center staffed by 497 personnel across 102 units.

The city said it checked on and took protective measures for 40,042 people in heat-vulnerable groups, including homeless individuals, residents of low-income single-room housing, elderly people living alone, people with disabilities, those with chronic illnesses and outdoor workers.

The city is also operating 9,851 heat response facilities and infrastructure sites, including climate-friendly rest centers, cooling shelters, emergency evacuation centers, rest facilities for mobile workers and heat-reduction installations.

The heat is forecast to persist Tuesday. The Korea Meteorological Administration predicted morning lows of 16 to 22 degrees Celsius and afternoon highs of 24 to 33 degrees on the last day of June. Seoul and Daejeon are expected to reach highs of 33 C, Daegu 32 C and Gwangju 31 C.

Meanwhile, rain is forecast for Jeju and the southern coast on Wednesday. If the rain arrives as predicted, weather authorities may officially declare the start of this year's monsoon season on Jeju — which would make it the third-latest monsoon onset on the island since 1973.


jookapooka@heraldcorp.com