Teenager Among 15 Heat-Related Deaths As South Korea And Japan Swelter
The heat wave warning first went into effect for most parts of the country Tuesday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. On Sunday, the agency raised a heat wave advisory in some parts of Gyeonggi Province and South Jeolla Province to a heat wave warning.
In South Korea, 12 people died from heat-related deaths last weekend, while in Japan, three died, including a 13-year-old returning from school.
South Korea
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that at least five who died over the weekend were farmers, and at least seven were over 70, including some in their 90s. Most of the country has been under a heatwave warning ¨C issued when temperatures pass 35C ¨C since Tuesday. Over the previous week, three people are believed to have died from heat-related causes.
Korea's weather agency said a heat wave warning remained in effect for most parts of the country on Sunday, warning people to refrain from outdoor activities as temperatures soared in most areas.
The heat wave warning first went into effect for most parts of the country Tuesday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.
On Sunday, the agency raised a heat wave advisory in some parts of Gyeonggi Province and South Jeolla Province to a heat wave warning.
Japan
In Japan, a 13-year-old girl was found unconscious on the pavement on Friday. She had been cycling home after attending a school club and was taken to hospital, where she later died from what authorities believe was heatstroke, the Mainichi reports.
The school had suspended the club gatherings an hour early due to concerns about the heat and said that students had taken breaks "every 20-25 minutes to rehydrate", the Mainichi reported.
Elsewhere, an elderly couple were found dead in their home in Tokyo by a healthcare worker, bringing the death toll since Friday to three. Police believe they died of heatstroke as temperatures in the city reached 35.7C, and their air conditioning was not on.
The deaths in Japan come weeks after the government set a target to halve the number of heat-related deaths by 2030.
Meanwhile, by 2025, one in five people in South Korea is expected to be older than 65, making it home to a "super ageing population", according to research published in the Lancet. By 2050, 44% of South Koreans may be over 65.
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