# South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has declared the country’s record-breaking heatwave a national disaster after the death toll climbed to 19. Authorities say 13 of those who died were aged 80 or older. Temperatures reached a record 42.5 degrees Celsius in the southeastern city of Yangsan, while Seoul remains under its first-ever heatwave warning. The government has urged people to avoid outdoor activities, expanded support for vulnerable residents and ordered checks on electricity systems as demand for air conditioning continues to soar.
South Korea declares heatwave a national disaster as deaths rise to 19