Record heat wave in Northeast Asia causes deaths and massive livestock losses

A severe heat wave sweeping Japan, South Korea and North Korea has led to dozens of heat‑related deaths and thousands of cases of illness. In South Korea, more than 2,200 people have been treated for heat‑related conditions and 19 have died since mid‑May, while the Interior and Safety Ministry reports the loss of roughly 17,000 livestock and 160,000 farmed fish. Japan’s disaster agency says over 18,000 patients were taken to hospitals for heat‑stroke symptoms during the week of 20‑26 July.

Authorities have declared the event a national disaster. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered an all‑out response, and North Korean health officials advised citizens to eat dog meat to boost stamina. The extreme temperatures also disrupted public events, with baseball games in Incheon halted after spectators collapsed.

The heat wave set new records, including a 42.5 °C reading in Yangsan, the highest in Korean observations since 1904, underscoring the growing threat of extreme weather in the region.