South Korea recorded its highest temperature since modern weather observations began, as an intense heatwave pushed temperatures to unprecedented levels and prompted emergency government measures.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said the southeastern city of Yangsan reached 42.5 degrees Celsius at 1:26 p.m. local time on Sunday, marking the highest temperature recorded since national weather observations began in 1904.
The milestone came as Yangsan experienced its fifth consecutive day with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, while heat warnings remained in effect across much of the country.
More than 20 localities were placed under emergency heatwave alerts on Sunday, a warning category introduced this year to address increasingly severe summer temperatures.
The emergency alert is issued when forecasts predict either a perceived temperature of at least 38 degrees Celsius or an actual temperature of 39 degrees Celsius or higher for a single day.
Temperatures also climbed to 40.2 degrees Celsius in Gyeongju, marking the first time the city exceeded 40 degrees Celsius this year.
The government activated a Level 2 emergency operation at its disaster response headquarters to strengthen the nationwide response.
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook instructed government ministries and provincial authorities to increase safety checks for vulnerable residents while ensuring stable electricity and water supplies.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said the average annual number of heatwave days has more than doubled over the past five years to 19, compared with an average of eight days during the 1970s.
The agency defines a heatwave day as one with a maximum temperature of at least 33 degrees Celsius.
Scientists say the climate crisis driven by human activity is making heatwaves more frequent, longer-lasting and more intense.
South Korea's record temperatures coincided with severe heat across Japan, where heatstroke alerts were issued for 30 prefectures.
High temperatures and strong winds also fueled wildfires in Greece, while hot and dry conditions persisted in Spain and France.
Wildfires continued across Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, and forecasters warned that parts of the western United States could also experience record temperatures alongside elevated wildfire risks.