47 Heat-Related Illness Cases Reported on the 23rd; 1 Death

[Financial News] On the 23rd, 47 people nationwide were reported to have suffered heat-related illnesses in a single day, and one of them died. As heatwave alerts remained in effect across most of the country, the cumulative number of heat-related illness cases this summer rose to 3,656, while deaths climbed to 33.
According to a heatwave response report released by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ) on the 25th, 47 heat-related illness cases were reported on the 23rd. The death occurred in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province. A 78-year-old man who had collapsed in a field was found by his child and taken to a hospital, but he died during treatment. The figures were tallied as of 4 p.m. on the 24th.
The cumulative number of heat-related illness cases this year stands at 3,656, down 328 from 3,984 during the same period last year. However, deaths have risen to 33, up 7 from 26 a year earlier. In other words, the number of patients has declined, but fatalities have increased.
Older adults were hit hardest. By age group, people in their 60s accounted for the most cases at 687, followed by those in their 50s with 589, those aged 80 and older with 488, and those in their 70s with 475. Among the deaths, 15 were people aged 80 or older, or 45.5% of the total 33 fatalities. Six deaths were reported in the 70s age group, while four each were reported among people in their 50s and 60s.
By region, Gyeonggi Province recorded the most heat-related illness cases at 893, followed by Seoul with 451, South Gyeongsang Province with 310, Jeollanam-do and Gwangju with 298, and North Gyeongsang Province with 279. Deaths were reported in Seoul and North Jeolla Province with six each, and in Incheon and South Gyeongsang Province with four each.
Damage to the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors is also continuing. As of the 24th, cumulative livestock losses reported due to the heat reached 1,257,642 head. Another 1,979 animals were added in a single day. The reported losses included 72,188 pigs and 1,185,454 poultry. That is lower than the 1,907,588 livestock losses reported during the same period last year.
Cumulative losses of farmed fish were tallied at 4,387,944. An additional 263,372 fish were reported lost on the 24th alone. By region, North Gyeongsang Province recorded the largest cumulative losses at 2,125,474, followed by South Gyeongsang Province with 1,106,385, South Chungcheong Province with 457,827, Jeju Province with 355,798, and Jeollanam-do with 342,460. The livestock and aquaculture figures are based on reports, and final damage totals will be confirmed after investigations into the causes are completed.
Meanwhile, as of 6 p.m. on the 24th, heatwave alerts were in effect in 215 areas nationwide. A Heat Wave Warning was issued for 70 areas, a Heatwave Advisory for 145, and a tropical-night advisory for 89. That day, the highest perceived temperature reached 36.4 degrees Celsius in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, while the highest actual temperature hit 37.0 degrees Celsius in Daegu and Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.
The government is maintaining the disaster crisis alert at the 'severe' level for the heatwave and has activated CDSCHQ at emergency Level 1. It is strengthening monitoring of vulnerable seniors and older farmers, while carrying out heat-related illness prevention campaigns at large event sites and other locations.


[email protected] Lee Bo-mi Reporter