South Korea is enduring one of the most severe heat waves in its recorded history, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time in several regions as authorities warned that the extreme heat has reached "life-threatening" levels.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the southeastern city of Yangsan recorded 40.3 degrees Celsius, marking the first time temperatures there have surpassed the 40-degree threshold. The reading also shattered the previous local record of 39.3 degrees Celsius, which had been set only three days earlier.

In the southern port city of Busan, temperatures climbed to 38.8 degrees Celsius, the highest since weather observations began in 1904. The new record exceeded the previous high of 37.3 degrees Celsius, set in August 2016, by 1.5 degrees.

The unprecedented heat has prompted the KMA to maintain its highest-level heat wave warnings for several areas in South Gyeongsang Province, including Yangsan, Gimhae, Miryang, Uiryeong, and Changnyeong.

"The extreme heat in South Gyeongsang has reached life-threatening levels," the KMA said in a statement.

"All nonessential outdoor activities and work should be suspended or postponed. People should move to cool places, drink water and check on the safety of family members, neighbors and others around them."

The heat wave has also intensified in the capital, Seoul, where temperatures reached 35 degrees Celsius in districts including Gangnam and Nowon.

Meteorologists upgraded heat wave advisories to warnings across much of the city, marking the second time this summer that Seoul has been placed under the highest level of heat alert. Under KMA criteria, a heat wave warning is issued when the daily maximum apparent temperature is expected to remain at or above 35 degrees Celsius for at least two consecutive days.

Forecasters warned that the scorching conditions are expected to spread nationwide over the coming days.

According to the KMA, the prolonged heat is being driven by a heat dome formed by the interaction of a strong North Pacific high-pressure system in the lower atmosphere and a hot, dry Tibetan high-pressure system in the upper atmosphere. The weather pattern traps hot air over the Korean Peninsula, preventing cooler air from entering and allowing temperatures to continue rising.

In addition to extreme daytime heat, much of the country is also expected to experience tropical nights, during which overnight temperatures remain too high to provide meaningful relief.

"Temperatures are unlikely to fall sufficiently overnight for the time being, so tropical nights are expected in many areas," a KMA official said.

The agency advised residents to remain indoors during the hottest hours of the day, use air conditioning or fans to keep indoor environments cool, stay well hydrated, and avoid consumption of alcohol and caffeine before sleeping.

Health authorities have also urged elderly people, children, outdoor workers and those with underlying medical conditions to take extra precautions, warning that prolonged exposure to extreme heat significantly increases the risk of heatstroke, dehydration and other heat-related illnesses.

Climate experts say the latest heat wave reflects a broader trend of increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events across East Asia, with rising global temperatures contributing to longer and more severe periods of extreme heat. Officials have urged the public to closely monitor weather advisories as the record-breaking temperatures are expected to persist in the coming days. (ILKHA)