We start this morning with the unbearable heat wave that is gripping South Korea….
Tuesday saw the mercury hover close to 40 in some parts.
For weeks now there have been no signs of any cool down and conditions are expected to get even hotter over the next few days.
Our Seo Bo-bin reports.
It's been almost two months since the first heat wave alert was issued in the country,... but the ongoing and record-breaking scorching conditions don't seem to be easing any time soon.
Temperatures in Seoul are expected to reach at least 39 degrees Celsius this week, which is the fifth highest since 1994,... and the heat wave this year is expected to carry on throughout August.
The hot weather is affecting people's health. This year, already more than 2,000 people have been treated for heat-related illnesses, which is about a third more than in the whole of last summer,... and at least 27 people have died.
Doctors are advising people to avoid spending too much time in the heat during the day and to make sure to stay hydrated.
The heat wave has also led to power outages around the country.
Residents of Hwasun County, Jeollanam-do Province had to wait in the heat for over four hours with no air conditioning or fans before their electricity was restored.
And in Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do Province, about 700 households were without power for more than 2 hours.
The Korean Electric Power Corporation says it believes the power outages were caused by overheated air circuit breakers since the electricity usage is higher than normal due to the heat wave.
Seo Bo-bin, Arirang News.
