Aju Business Daily

SEOUL -- A protracted deadly heat wave killed at least 29 people and left more than 500 people hospitalized as the mercury hit a record high of 41 C degrees since 1907 when South Koreathe began compiling related data.

Data compiled by the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC) from May 20 showed Wednesday that 2,355 fever patients have been treated at hospitals since May 20. The agency said the extreme has killed 29 people with 549 others still lying in hospital beds.

On Wednesday, the temperature soared to 41 C in the eastern county of Hongcheon and 38.8 C in Seoul, the highest level since 1907. The heat wave was attributed to the wall of high atmospheric pressure in the Northern Pacific. Weathermen predicted the scorching heat would last throughout August.