Heat-Related Deaths Surge... Local Governments Also Battle Heatwave

The elderly are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses caused by heatwaves. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

As the nationwide heatwave continues day after day, the number of deaths caused by heat-related illnesses is increasing. Heat-related illnesses are acute conditions caused by heat, with damage concentrated mainly among the elderly in rural areas. Additionally, the risk is high for low-income elderly people who work outdoors during the hot summer midday or live in poor environments with inadequate cooling and ventilation.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 255 cases of heat-related illnesses occurred over four days from the 26th to the 29th, following the Korea Meteorological Administration's declaration of the end of the rainy season. Over the past weekend alone, there were 11 cases of death or suspected death due to heat-related illnesses. The weather is expected to continue fluctuating around a heat index of 35 degrees Celsius for the time being, so thorough preparation is necessary.

Each district in Seoul is implementing various heatwave countermeasures, ranging from operating cooling shelters and installing shade tents and water refrigerators to designating safe accommodations and installing window-type air conditioners for low-income groups. Dobong-gu, which has a large elderly population, has been conducting on-site inspections since early this month by matching 131 local senior centers serving as cooling shelters with autonomous disaster prevention team inspection squads. The inspection teams visit cooling shelters to check the operation of cooling devices and promote heat-related illness prevention guidelines to elderly people vulnerable to heat and local residents engaged in outdoor activities.

Mapo-gu has secured 30 visiting nurses who pre-select vulnerable groups such as elderly living alone, chronic patients, and disabled individuals, and provide care management through visits or welfare check-in calls. They operate 177 cooling shelters until the end of September and secure up to 10 hotel rooms daily to provide as safe accommodations for cooling shelters. Nowon-gu also designates 50 hotel rooms within the district as nighttime safe accommodations for basic livelihood security recipients and elderly living alone during weather warnings. Seocho-gu supported the installation of window-type air conditioners for 100 elderly households living in poor residential environments such as semi-basements last month.

Despite local government support, extreme heatwaves are expected to persist and pose threats for the time being. Chronic patients, the elderly, and children should be especially cautious. Experts advise refraining from outdoor activities during the daytime (12 PM to 5 PM), when heat-related illnesses frequently occur, and recommend immediate emergency treatment and contacting 119 if symptoms such as sudden headache, dizziness, or muscle cramps appear in hot environments.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.