Around 200 People Rushed to ERs Due to Heatwave Yesterday... 3 Deaths Reported

by Kim Youngwon

Published 08 Aug.2026 16:58(KST)

Number of Heat-Related Illness Patients Rises Back to Over 200

Due to the nationwide heatwave, it was found that around 200 people visited emergency rooms for heat-related illnesses in a single day.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on August 8, a total of 202 patients with heat-related illnesses visited roughly 500 emergency rooms across the country the previous day. There were 3 deaths reported.

Although it is the solar term of Ipchu, marking the beginning of autumn, a heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius is raging nationwide including Seoul. On August 7, 2026, on Sejong-daero in Jongno-gu, Seoul, citizens carrying parasols are moving under the intense morning sun. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Since the heat-related illness surveillance system was activated on May 15 this year, the cumulative number of patients identified has reached 3,089. The cumulative number of deaths stands at 26.

The number of heat-related illness patients has been in the triple digits every day this month. On August 3, there were 208 patients, 211 on the 4th, and 223 on the 5th, with the daily count exceeding 200 for three consecutive days. Although it dropped slightly to 194 on the 6th, the figure rebounded and increased again within just one day.

By region, Gyeonggi Province recorded the highest number of patients at 68, followed by Seoul with 35.

Males accounted for 76.8% of the total cumulative patients with heat-related illnesses this summer. In terms of age groups, 35.1% were seniors aged 65 or older.

By illness, heat exhaustion was the most common at 61.4%, followed by heat stroke at 18.0%, and heat cramps at 10.8%.

Regarding the time of occurrence, 12.8% of cases happened from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. This is believed to be due to overnight heat such as tropical nights, which kept temperatures high even in the morning. The proportion of cases occurring from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. was 9.9%, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. was 9.8%, and from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. was 9.2%.