Drone warnings and sheltering in airports as South Korea battles historic heatwave
South Korea is experiencing a record-breaking heatwave, prompting the government to declare a national disaster and deploy drones to monitor and warn farmers. The extreme temperatures have resulted in multiple deaths and thousands of heat-related medical emergencies.
Why it matters
It underscores the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events and the innovative, albeit desperate, measures required for public safety.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Drones attached with loudspeakers and thermal imaging cameras are one way South Korea is fighting the heatwave
South Korean authorities are deploying drones to issue heat warnings to farmers while residents are taking shelter in 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 called a "national disaster".
Temperatures in the south soared to a record 42.5C (108.5F) earlier this week.
At least 23 people have died from heat-related illnesses in the country so far this year, while nearly 2,500 have visited emergency rooms for heat-related conditions since mid-May, authorities say.
"Heatwave conditions once seen only in foreign news reports have now become our reality," Lee said on Thursday.
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