26 Heat-Related Illness Cases Nationwide in Two Days Due to Early Heat... Includes One Death

Seven Cases Including One Death on May 15

Nineteen Patients Visit Emergency Rooms on May 16

As daytime temperatures hover around 30 degrees Celsius for several consecutive days, a total of 26 cases of heat-related illnesses have been reported over the past two days, including one death.

On the 14th, when daytime temperatures in Seoul rose to as high as 31 degrees Celsius and hot summer-like weather was seen across the country, a foreigner was passing through Seoul Forest in Seongdong District, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Emergency Room Surveillance System for Heat-Related Illnesses operated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on the 17th, a total of 19 patients with heat-related illnesses visited emergency rooms nationwide the previous day, bringing the cumulative total to 26 cases.

Since May 15, the KDCA has been operating this year’s emergency room surveillance system for heat-related illnesses in collaboration with more than 500 emergency medical institutions across the country.

On the first day of surveillance, May 15, there were 7 reported cases of heat-related illness. Among them was a man in his 80s from Seoul who died. This fatality is known to be the earliest ever recorded since the KDCA began operating its emergency room surveillance system for heat-related illnesses.

The previous day saw 19 new cases, with regional distribution as follows: Gangwon reported 6 cases, Seoul 3 cases, Gyeonggi, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong, and North Gyeongsang each reported 2 cases, and North Jeolla and Jeju each reported 1 case.

Heat-related illnesses are acute conditions caused by high temperatures and typically involve symptoms such as headache, dizziness, muscle cramps, and fatigue. Among these, heatstroke is a medical emergency in which the body temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius and central nervous system abnormalities occur, requiring immediate treatment. In severe cases, it can be fatal.

In particular, older adults, pregnant women, children, and individuals with underlying health conditions may be more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses due to less effective temperature regulation compared to healthy adults. The KDCA urged the public to follow preventive guidelines for heat-related illnesses, even in the absence of official heat wave advisories.

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