Heatwave causes record number of deaths in South Korea
Dozens dead as capital hit with highest temperatures in more than a century
At least 42 people have died in South Korea, as the country grapples with a record heatwave with temperatures unseen in more than 100 years.
This is the highest number of deaths since South Korea began officially counting casualties due to heat in 2011.
More than 3,400 people have been treated for heat-related illnesses, such as heatstroke, since the end of May, officials said.
Temperatures in the capital Seoul, which is home to about half the country’s population, reached 39.6 degrees Celsius (103 Fahrenheit) last week, the hottest temperature in 111 years.
South Korea has been grappling with the extreme temperatures since late July, which have wreaked havoc on crops across the border in North Korea, a country that has often faced food shortages.
Most of the deaths were among elderly and poor people who lack air conditioning in their homes. But at least five died after working outdoors, including a man in his 30s and a migrant worker from Vietnam in his 50s.
