Heatwave Crisis Alert "Severe" Maintained for a Month, Surpassing Last Year’s Record

Maintained for 34 Days This Year, Surpassing Last Year’s 29 Days
4,089 Cases of Heat-Related Illnesses, Exceeding Last Year’s Total

This year, the highest level of the heatwave crisis alert, classified as "Severe," has been maintained for over a month, surpassing last year's record.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on August 27, it has been 34 days since the "Severe" heatwave crisis alert was issued and the first phase of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters was activated on July 25. The "Severe" level is declared when more than 40% of regions nationwide are expected to experience a daily maximum perceived temperature of 35 degrees Celsius or higher for at least three consecutive days.

On the 29th, a day before Jungbok, amid continuous heatwaves, a maintenance worker at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is watering the lawn. 2025.7.29 Photo by Jo Yongjun

This year's "Severe" alert has lasted the longest since heatwaves were legally recognized as a disaster in September 2018. The "Severe" alert has been issued four times: in 2019, 2023, last year, and this year. In 2019 and 2023, the "Severe" alert lasted less than 10 days. Last year, it persisted for 29 days from July 31 to August 28, but this year has already surpassed that record.

The damage caused by the heatwave has also exceeded last year's figures. As of July 25, the total number of heat-related illness cases was 4,089, which is 891 more than the same period last year. The cumulative number of heat-related illness cases during last summer was 3,704, a figure that has already been surpassed this year. Livestock losses have reached 1,721,907 animals so far, about 660,000 more than the 1,057,170 animals lost during the same period last year.

With the heat continuing, attention is also focused on whether the second phase of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, which was activated only once during a heatwave in 2023, will be implemented again. The second phase is declared when more than 108 regions nationwide are expected to experience a daily maximum perceived temperature of 35 degrees Celsius or higher for at least three consecutive days. Although rain earlier in the week brought temperatures down in the central region, heatwave warnings remain in effect, especially in the southern regions. As of 6 a.m. on this day, there are heatwave warnings in 19 areas and heatwave advisories in 54 areas, totaling 73 regions under heatwave alerts.

Kim Kwangyong, Deputy Chief of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Director General for Disaster and Safety Management at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), held a headquarters meeting the previous day and stated, "The government will mobilize all available resources to minimize casualties and property damage until the heatwave situation is over," adding, "We also ask the public to refrain from going outdoors during peak heat hours and to protect your health by staying hydrated and taking sufficient rest."