Heat-Related Illness Cases Total 4,066 This Summer; Deaths Rise 24% to 36

Deaths among people aged 80 and older rise from 10 to 17

Although the number of people with heat-related illnesses this summer fell by nearly 9% from last year, the number of deaths rose by 24%. The number of cases among people aged 80 and older and those occurring at home increased significantly.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on October 12 that 4,066 people with heat-related illnesses and 36 estimated deaths were reported during the operation of its emergency room surveillance system for heat-related illnesses, which ran from May 15 through September 30. The number of cases fell by 394, or 8.8%, from 4,460 last year, while estimated deaths increased by seven, from 29 to 36, a rise of 24.1%. This year's case total was the third-highest since the surveillance system began operating in 2011.

A citizen walks along Sejong-daero in Jongno-gu, Seoul, under the intense morning sun, carrying a parasol. Photo by Cho Yongjun

Cases of heat-related illness were concentrated in early August, when extreme heat persisted. A total of 1,547 cases were reported from August 1 to 10, accounting for 38% of all cases. Estimated deaths during the same period totaled 16, or 44.4% of the total. The average daily high temperature during this period was 34.4 degrees Celsius, 2.9 degrees higher than the 31.5 degrees recorded during the same period last year.

By age group, the largest number of cases was among people in their 60s, at 773 (19.0%), followed by those in their 50s, at 670 (16.5%); 40s, at 580 (14.3%); 30s, at 524 (12.9%); and 70s, at 522 (12.8%). Unlike the overall decline in cases, the number of patients aged 65 and older rose from 1,341 last year to 1,421 this year. Their share of all patients also increased from 30.1% to 34.9%.

Of the 36 estimated deaths, the largest number, 17 (47.2%), were among people aged 80 and older. This was seven more than the 10 (34.5%) recorded last year. The number of estimated deaths among people under 80 was 19 in both years, meaning the entire year-on-year increase in estimated deaths occurred among people aged 80 and older.

The KDCA plans to release detailed information in December through its annual report, “2026 Annual Report on Heat-Related Illnesses Reported During Heat Waves.”

“With deaths among people aged 80 and older having increased, it is especially important to take a close look at their living environments and access to care,” said KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan. “We will continue to build a scientific evidence base on heat-related illnesses and strengthen public guidance, making every effort to minimize the harm to public health caused by heat waves.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.