Extreme Heatwaves Hit the World, Here's How Various Countries Are Coping
Extreme hot weather hitting various countries is forcing governments to take swift action to minimise its impact. Amid the threat of forest fires, health problems, and declining productivity, a number of countries are implementing policies and introducing various innovations to cope with the rising temperatures.
South Korea raised its heatwave alert status to the ‘warning’ level in half of the country’s regions on Friday (10/7/2026), following predictions of extreme heat that will persist throughout the weekend. ‘As of 3:00 p.m. local time (06:00 GMT), the disaster alert level related to hot weather has been raised from ’caution’ to ‘warning’,’ the South Korean Ministry of the Interior and Safety said in an official statement.
The statement added that the alert status was applied in 116 out of a total of 235 special warning zones nationwide amid extreme heat projected to continue for the next several days. According to a report by Yonhap news agency, a ‘warning’ status is issued when the maximum air temperature is predicted to reach or exceed 35 degrees Celsius for two consecutive days or more.
The Korea Meteorological Administration predicts that the highest daytime temperatures could soar to 37 degrees Celsius throughout this weekend, while southern regions will experience temperatures around 35 degrees Celsius.
Given the sharply increased risk of heatstroke, the ministry has instructed its staff to tighten monitoring and preventive measures for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, agricultural workers, and outdoor labourers. Patrols in open areas and farmland will be intensified, along with anticipatory measures to prevent damage to agricultural commodities.
Before the heatwave arrived, South Korea was hit by heavy monsoon rains on Wednesday and Thursday that flooded homes and road facilities, triggering mass evacuations. According to Yonhap data as of Friday, a total of 758 people across the country had been evacuated, one person was reported missing, and more than 400 infrastructure facilities were damaged.