South Korea's Yangsan hits record 42.5°C amid severe heatwave
On 2 August 2026 the southeastern city of Yangsan recorded a temperature of 42.5 °C at 13:26 local time, the highest reading in South Korea since the Korea Meteorological Administration began records in 1904. It was the fifth consecutive day that temperatures in Yangsan exceeded 40 °C.
More than 20 locations across the country were placed under a newly‑created emergency heatwave alert, prompting the government to activate an emergency disaster response. Authorities urged residents to stop all outdoor activities, move immediately to cooling centres or shaded areas, stay hydrated and rest. Prime Minister Han Seongsook ordered ministries to use all communication channels to disseminate the warning.
The extreme heat also forced the Korea Baseball Organization to cancel a professional game in Changwon when temperatures reached 39.5 °C. Scientists said the increasing frequency and intensity of such heatwaves are driven by human‑induced climate change and the return of El Niño, while simultaneous North Pacific and Tibetan high‑pressure systems trapped hot air over the peninsula.
Entities: El Niño · Han Seong-suk · Korea Baseball Organization · Korea Meteorological Administration · Prime Minister Han Seongsook · South Korea · Yangsan · Yangsan (city, South Korea)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 7 SOURCES] More than 20 locations in South Korea were placed under emergency heatwave alerts, a new warning category introduced this year. (Korea Meteorological Administration)
- [● 9 SOURCES] The 42.5 °C reading is the highest temperature recorded in South Korea since records began in 1904. (Korea Meteorological Administration)
- [● 7 SOURCES] The average annual number of heatwave days in South Korea has risen from eight in the 1970s to 19 in recent years. (Korea Meteorological Administration)
- [● 7 SOURCES] Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves in South Korea to human‑induced climate change and the return of El Niño. (Scientific experts)
- [● 7 SOURCES] The heatwave persisted for five consecutive days with temperatures above 40 °C in Yangsan. (Korea Meteorological Administration)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Yangsan recorded a temperature of 42.5 °C at 13:26 local time on 2 August 2026. (Korea Meteorological Administration)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Korea Baseball Organization cancelled a professional baseball game in Changwon when the temperature reached 39.5 °C. (Korea Baseball Organization)
- [● 7 SOURCES] Authorities advised residents to stop all outdoor activities, move to cooling centres or shaded areas, stay hydrated and rest. (Korea Meteorological Administration)