Heat haze rises from the asphalt streets around Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 3rd as heat advisories are in effect for most of the country. /Courtesy of News1

In Dangjin, South Chungcheong, a woman in her 70s was found dead in a chili field, and police are investigating the possibility of a heat-related illness.

According to police and fire authorities on the 4th, at about 7:40 p.m. on the 3rd, a family member found A, in her 70s, collapsed in a chili field in Busu-ri, Sinpyeong-myeon, Dangjin, and called 119.

Paramedics who responded to the scene confirmed that A was already dead. After returning home and not finding A at the house, the family went to the field and found A collapsed, according to reports.

Police believe A died of a heat-related illness while working on the farm during the heat wave and are investigating the exact cause of death.

On the 3rd, when the incident occurred, Dangjin recorded a daytime high of 35.1 C and a maximum heat index of 35.5 C.

If South Chungcheong Province ultimately determines that A's cause of death was a heat-related illness, the number of heat-related deaths in the province this year will increase to four. Earlier, on the 2nd in Dangjin, two people died of heat-related illness, and on the 12th of last month, one person died of heat-related illness in Cheonan.

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