Extreme Weather Sweeps Across Asia, Claiming Lives in South Korea and Japan
Seoul — The extreme weather conditions sweeping across Asia have resulted in more casualties, with South Korea and Japan reporting deaths from the scorching heat. Authorities in both countries have issued alerts this week in response to the extreme weather events.
This summer has seen a series of extreme heat waves and typhoons wreaking havoc across the region. In China, Typhoon Doksuri hit Beijing this week, resulting in the deaths of 11 people and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate.
Following closely behind Typhoon Doksuri, Typhoon Khanun is currently moving through Japan’s southernmost Okinawa prefecture, bringing with it powerful winds and heavy rain. This has triggered further alerts in the region.
Scientists have warned that these extreme weather events have become more frequent and destructive due to global warming.
On Tuesday, the South Korean government raised the heat alert to its highest level for the first time since 2019. Temperatures in certain parts of South Korea have exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) this week, with the high humidity making it feel even hotter.
According to estimates by the country’s fire authorities, at least 23 people in South Korea have died from heat-related causes since late May. Two deaths were reported on Tuesday, both of elderly individuals who were working outside in agricultural fields.
This summer’s death toll is more than three times higher than the figures from the same period last year, as reported by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has called for a comprehensive approach to prevent heat-related illnesses, particularly among the elderly and those who work outdoors. He has urged officials to consider setting up cooling shelters across the country and to closely monitor the energy supply due to the soaring demand for air conditioning.
At the World Scout Jamboree, which opened in South Korea’s southwestern Buan County on Wednesday, more than 400 cases of heatstroke have been reported among tens of thousands of teenage campers. Some participating countries have postponed sending their delegations to the international youth event due to concerns about adverse conditions at the campsite. Organizers of the Jamboree have expanded emergency medical support and established cooling shelters to prevent heat-related illnesses.
In neighboring Japan, temperatures as high as 103.6 degrees (39.8C) have been recorded in southern parts of the country this week. As of Wednesday, a “special heatstroke alert” has been issued in 32 prefectures in Japan, resulting in the cancellation of school activities and closure of tourist sites.
Japan recently experienced its hottest July since records began 125 years ago. With temperatures regularly surpassing 95 degrees (35C), a record-breaking 11,765 people were hospitalized for heatstroke last week, which is 1.8 times higher than the levels during the same period last year.
Despite the Japanese government’s goal to halve heat-related deaths by 2030, the number of heatstroke cases this summer continues to rise. Last week, a 13-year-old student died of suspected heatstroke while on her way home from school in Yamagata prefecture, north of Tokyo.
In central Tokyo, the Tokyo Medical Examiner’s Office reported that 73 people died last month from heat-related illnesses. More than half of these individuals did not have access to air conditioning at home.
The elderly population in rapidly aging Japan and South Korea are the most vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat, further complicating public health adaptation strategies.
As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, it is crucial for governments and communities to prioritize measures to protect vulnerable populations and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
