As record-breaking heat continued across Gyeonggi Province for the 15th consecutive day, the daily number of heat illness patients set a new high for the third straight day. The cumulative total also surpassed 600.
According to the Gyeonggi Provincial Heatwave Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 6th, a total of 70 heat illness patients were reported across the province the previous day. This is the highest figure so far this year.
Following 49 heat illness patients on the 3rd and 69 on the 4th, a new record high was set for the third consecutive day.
From May 15, when heat illness tallies began, through the 5th of this month, the cumulative number of heat illness patients in the province was found to be 612. Of these, two have died.
However, the scale of heat illness cases this year is about 23% lower than the 793 recorded last year.
Livestock damage has also continued. As of the 6th, livestock deaths were tallied at 18 cases involving 10,534 animals. Cumulative damage was recorded at 350 cases and 137,079 animals.
Chickens and ducks accounted for the largest number of dead livestock at 124,899, followed by 8,000 quail and 4,180 pigs.
A heat advisory has been in effect for all 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province since the 23rd of last month.
On the 6th, a severe heat warning was issued for 18 cities and counties, including Osan, Hanam, Yeoju, Goyang, Anseong, Paju, Yongin, Ansan, Gimpo, Pyeongtaek, Gwangmyeong, Yeoncheon, Pocheon, Gapyeong, Namyangju, Uiwang, Hwaseong, and Yangpyeong.
A heat warning was in effect for the remaining 13 cities and counties.
In particular, Yeoju saw sweltering heat all day, with the daytime high reaching 39.1 degrees. As of 8 p.m., a tropical night advisory was in effect for all cities and counties in the province.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Heatwave Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters forecast, "The severe heat warning will continue through tomorrow, and starting the day after tomorrow, temperatures will drop by 1 to 3 degrees as the double heat dome phenomenon partially dissipates." It added, "However, heat at the level of a heat advisory is expected to continue into next week."
