Heat-related deaths rise to 20... More than triple last year's number

Cumulative Heat Illness Cases Reach 1,613
Daily Average Exceeds 100 This Month

Amid the ongoing heatwave, on the afternoon of the 3rd, a worker at a construction site in Insadong is taking an ice pack out of an ice machine storage box. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

The estimated number of deaths from heat-related illnesses has increased to 20 this year.

According to the Heat-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on the 5th, a total of 88 patients with heat-related illnesses visited 504 emergency rooms nationwide (97% of all emergency rooms) the previous day.

Since the heat-related illness surveillance began on May 20th this year, the cumulative number of heat-related illness patients is 1,613. One additional death suspected to be caused by heat-related illness was reported the previous day, bringing the total to 20. This is more than three times the number during the same period last year (6).

The heat-related illness patients and deaths compiled by the KDCA include cases diagnosed by doctors with heat-related illnesses in emergency rooms nationwide. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) for heatwave response also cites these statistics.

The fire department also compiles data on heat-related illness patients and deaths, but these are based on paramedics' assessments at the scene using body temperature and other indicators, which may differ from doctors' diagnoses.

According to the KDCA Heat-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System, the average daily number of heat-related illness patients visiting emergency rooms nationwide has exceeded 100 since the beginning of this month. On the 3rd, 126 heat-related illness patients?the highest number reported at once this summer?were reported, and the daily average for this month was 102.

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