This Summer's Record-Breaking Heat... Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Operates for 46 Days, the Longest Ever

Last year's 29 days was the previous longest record... Period likely to extend as it hasn't been lifted yet

Heat-related illness patients (PG) [Illustration by Kang Min-ji]

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) for this year's heatwave has been in operation for 46 consecutive days, breaking the longest record in history.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 8th, the CDSCH for heatwave has been operating for 46 days since it began its Level 1 operation on July 25th, coinciding with the upgrade of the heatwave crisis warning to 'Serious'.

This is the longest operation period since the CDSCH began operating in 2019, when heatwaves were officially recognized as disasters. The previous longest record was 29 days, from July 31st to August 28th of last year. In 2023, the CDSCH for heatwave was only operational for 8 days.

As the CDSCH has not yet been deactivated this year, the operational period is expected to increase further. Although the heat has somewhat subsided, heatwave advisories are still in effect in some southern regions.

The CDSCH for heatwave is activated when conditions such as the highest perceived temperature exceeding 35 degrees Celsius is expected to persist for more than three days in over 40% of land forecast zones.

This summer's heatwave itself has also been prolonged.

As of the 6th, the number of hot days this year stands at 29.5 days, which is 4.8 days more than the same period last year (24.7 days).

From May 15th, when the emergency room surveillance system for heat-related illnesses was activated, to the 6th of this month, a cumulative total of 4,370 cases of heat-related illnesses and 29 deaths have been reported.

An official from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety urged the public to "prioritize their health by refraining from outdoor activities as much as possible during the hot daytime hours and staying sufficiently hydrated, following the recommended safety guidelines."