South Korea Summer Gets Serious, Drones Warned, Travellers Sheltering

South Korean authorities are deploying drones to issue heat warnings to farmers while some residents are seeking refuge in air-conditioned airports as the country battles an unprecedented heatwave. President Lee Jae Myung has ordered public agencies to mobilise all available resources to deal with the extreme heat, which he has described as a national disaster. Temperatures in the south reached a record 42.5C (108.5F) earlier this week, highlighting the severity of the ongoing heatwave. At least 23 people have died from heat-related illnesses in South Korea so far this year, while nearly 2,500 people have visited emergency rooms for heat-related conditions since mid-May, according to authorities. Heatwave conditions once seen only in foreign news reports have now become our reality, Lee said on Thursday. Emergency Measures Across South Korea Local governments have introduced a range of measures to help residents cope with the extreme temperatures. Some authorities have deployed trucks to parks, markets and bus stops to distribute chilled bottled water free of charge. In the southern city of Yangsan, where temperatures reached a historic 42.5C on Sunday, fleets of sprinkler trucks have been travelling through the streets, spraying water onto roads heated by the intense sunshine. In rural areas such as North Gyeongsang province, authorities are using drones equipped with loudspeakers and thermal-imaging cameras to help protect farmers, many of whom are elderly. The drones hover over farming areas and broadcast warnings encouraging people to take breaks and move indoors when temperatures become dangerous. Outdoor Events Cancelled The extreme heat has also disrupted sporting and cultural activities across the country. Most outdoor activities have been cancelled following advice from the national weather agency. The cancellations include the daily changing-of-the-guard ceremony at Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace. The country's national baseball organisation has also cancelled all scheduled games for the week. The decision followed an incident at a baseball game in Incheon on Tuesday, when a 23-year-old spectator collapsed. The spectator was reportedly affected by dehydration and low blood pressure linked to the extreme heat. Airports Become Places of Refuge With temperatures continuing to soar, some air-conditioned airports have become places of refuge for vulnerable people seeking relief from the heat. Incheon International Airport, the country's largest airport, has reportedly become a cooling destination for some elderly people and homeless residents. Photographs published by local media show people lying on benches and platforms, with some using towels as makeshift blankets. The scenes underline the scale of the heatwave as authorities continue to expand emergency measures. Officials are urging residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity, stay hydrated and seek cooler environments during the hottest periods of the day as South Korea confronts exceptionally high temperatures.