South Korea recorded its highest temperature since measurements began in 1904 on Sunday, with the mercury reaching 42.5C in the southeastern city of Yangsan, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. The reading, taken at 1:26 p.m. local time near the port city of Busan, marks the fifth consecutive day Yangsan has exceeded 40C.
The record comes as more than 20 localities sit under an extreme heat alert, with a broader heatwave warning covering 157 cities. The maximum alert tier, introduced earlier this year to address extreme weather linked to climate change, was triggered for the first time on July 12. Authorities have urged residents to avoid outdoor exercise and stay in the shade.
The country's average annual number of heatwave days has risen from eight in the 1970s to 19 over the past five years, according to the meteorological agency.