A record-breaking heat wave has gripped Northeast Asia, triggering life-threatening conditions, sporting event cancellations, and animal deaths across South Korea, North Korea, and Japan. The extreme temperatures have prompted emergency government interventions and unusual health advisories as major cities and rural areas struggle to cope with the intense summer heat.
In South Korea, a major heat wave advisory was in effect on Wednesday as temperatures in the densely populated greater Seoul area, home to 20 million residents, soared to 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 degrees Fahrenheit). Even higher temperatures were recorded in the southeastern city of Yangsan, where the thermometer hit 42.5 degrees Celsius (108.5 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday. This marks the highest temperature recorded in the country since weather observations began in 1904. In response to the worsening conditions, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung instructed officials during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to treat the ongoing heat wave as "a national disaster" and to deploy all-out efforts to protect human lives.
The extreme heat has also disrupted professional sports in South Korea. During a baseball game between the SSG Landers and LG Twins in Incheon on Tuesday night, a spectator in his 20s collapsed in the stands. Emergency personnel administered CPR before transporting him to a hospital, which caused a 10-minute delay in the game. After the game concluded, another fan in his 20s lost consciousness and received medical treatment at the stadium. Following these incidents, the Korea Baseball Organization announced on Wednesday that all 10 games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday would be canceled and rescheduled.
Across the border in North Korea, state media has focused on dietary recommendations to combat the heat. Min Son Yong, deputy director of the internal medicine department at Pyongyang General Hospital, advised citizens in the Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Sunday to consume dog meat and fish porridge to replenish protein and boost stamina. Euphemistically referred to as "dangogi," or sweet meat, dog meat has historically been viewed as a stamina-boosting food in North Korea, traditionally eaten during the hottest weeks of the year. Min also recommended watermelons, cucumbers, tomatoes, mung beans, and ginger to help the body cool down. While dog meat remains culturally significant in North Korea, China, Vietnam, and several African nations, South Korea is preparing to implement a formal ban on the slaughter, breeding, and sale of dog meat for human consumption starting next year.
Meanwhile, Japan is grappling with its own severe heat emergency. The country's anti-disaster agency reported that more than 18,000 people were hospitalized with heat stroke symptoms during the week of July 20 to 26. On Wednesday, Japan's Environment Ministry issued a heat stroke alert covering most of western and southern Japan. Although the Tokyo region experienced a temporary drop in temperatures this week, southern Japan continued to bake under intense heat.
The heat has compounded the suffering in the southwestern Japanese city of Kumamoto, which is currently recovering from a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck on July 28. The earthquake caused 38 deaths, including a woman in her 70s who developed fatal heat stroke while taking shelter inside a car. More than 43,000 households in Kumamoto remained without water on Wednesday as cleanup and relief operations continued under scorching conditions.
The extreme weather has also taken a heavy toll on wildlife. At Tokyo's Tama Zoological Park, three female lions died within days of each other after showing symptoms of heatstroke. Zoo officials reported that Mugi, a 3-year-old female lion, lost her appetite on July 19 and was unable to stand by the following day. Keepers attempted to cool her using a water sprinkler and ventilation, and administered subcutaneous fluids, liver tonics, and vitamins. Despite these efforts, Mugi died on July 28. Two other female lions, 11-year-old Ichigo and 15-year-old Luena, also died shortly thereafter. Autopsies performed on all three lions revealed severe dehydration and multiple organ failure, leading zoo officials to conclude that the extreme heat was the cause of death.
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