It Wasn't Only Korea That Was Cold... 78 People Died in One Day in Subtropical Regions Without Ondol Heating

Record Number of Deaths in Taiwan in a Single Day Due to Cold Wave
Lack of Heating Systems Makes Temperatures Feel Even Colder

A 'polar cold wave' from the Arctic swept into Taiwan, where the average winter temperature is in the mid-teens Celsius, resulting in 78 deaths in just one day.

On the 9th, Taiwanese media including China Times, citing data from local fire departments, reported that from midnight to 9 p.m. the previous day, a sudden drop in temperature caused 11 deaths in northern Taipei, 10 in the southernmost Pingtung, 9 in southern Tainan, totaling 78 fatalities. This is the highest number of deaths recorded in a single day due to a cold wave. Among the deceased, 7 people in central Taichung were transported to hospitals in a non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) state, and their ages were reported to be between 54 and 89 years old.

Scenery of Taipei, Taiwan. Pixabay

Taiwanese media reported that according to statistics from the Ministry of the Interior Fire Department, the number of deaths caused by the cold wave was 853 from December 9 to 31 last year, and 492 from January 1 to 11 this year, totaling approximately 1,345 over about one month. In January 2023, Taiwan also experienced a cold wave during the Lunar New Year (Chunjeol) holiday, which caused 146 deaths across the island over two days. At that time, the morning low temperatures in Taiwan were between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius.

Located along the Tropic of Cancer, Taiwan has a subtropical climate and generally experiences higher temperatures than Korea. The average temperature in Taiwan in February is about 15 to 17 degrees Celsius in Taipei, similar to spring weather in Korea. However, due to very high humidity and the lack of heating systems like ondol (underfloor heating) in many residences, the perceived temperature is relatively lower.

In this regard, a doctor advised, "About 70% of sudden deaths occur at home between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. during the cold winter mornings," adding, "After getting out from under a warm blanket, one should put on clothes and socks and move slowly to gradually come into contact with the outside air." Furthermore, not only the elderly but also people in their 40s and 50s with risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia should be cautious of OHCA.

The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) of Taiwan announced that the temperature in the outer island area of Matsu dropped to 5.4 degrees Celsius the previous morning, and the perceived temperatures in Matsu and Miaoli were about 1 and 2 degrees Celsius, respectively. It also stated that a low-temperature warning was issued until the early morning of the 10th, and temperatures are expected to recover starting from the 11th.