For the first time, Seoul issued the highest-level heat alert, the extreme heat emergency warning, across the entire city. The Seoul Metropolitan Government strengthened its heat response, expanding water-spraying truck operations and cooling centers.
The Korea Meteorological Administration added an extreme heat emergency warning for northeastern and northwestern Seoul on the 4th in the morning. Following the issuance for the southeastern and southwestern areas the previous day, it was expanded to take effect across all of Seoul from 11 a.m. that day.
The extreme heat emergency warning is the highest level of heat advisory, issued when, in areas where the daily maximum apparent temperature of 35 degrees Celsius or higher has persisted for two or more days, a maximum apparent temperature of 38 degrees or higher or a maximum temperature of 39 degrees or higher is expected. Since the system took effect in June, this is the first time the warning has been issued for all of Seoul.
The extreme heat emergency warning was also in effect for Osan, Hanam, Goyang, Anseong, southern Paju, northeastern Yongin, northwestern Yongin, southeastern Yeoju and the west in Gyeonggi Province, as well as Jeonju in North Jeolla, and Jangseong and northern Gokseong in South Jeolla. Boseong, Yeosu and Gwangyang in South Jeolla, southern Gokseong and Suncheon, and eastern Gwangju were already under the extreme heat emergency warning.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, via safety alert text messages, urged people to refrain from going out and outdoor activities, drink plenty of water, rest in cool places, and check on the safety of family and neighbors.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government is bolstering its emergency response as the heat wave persists. It expanded operations of the comprehensive heat response situation room and moved to focus on protecting vulnerable groups such as people experiencing homelessness and residents of small rooming houses, managing safety for outdoor workers, and running cooling centers.
Currently in Seoul, more than 4,000 cooling centers at community service centers, senior centers and welfare centers are operating, along with about 400 climate companion shelters using convenience stores and banks, 62 emergency shelters, and 30 shelters for mobile workers. Cooling fog at 187 locations and 14 cooling roads are also operating, and water-spraying trucks are being deployed on major roads to lower urban heat.
Based on Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency tallies, Seoul's cumulative number of heat-related illness patients rose to 185 as of the 3rd, and 2 of them died.
Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul mayor, visited a heat response site that day and said, "We will strengthen our heat wave measures not just by expanding facilities like cooling centers and shade canopies, but by directly finding and protecting citizens who live and work in the actual heat."