health
Potatoes ‘boil’ in the ground as record heatwave sweeps across swathes of Asia
South Korean farmers are suffering in record heat, as Hong Kong reports its highest ever temperature and Japan swelters through newly designated ‘cruelly hot’ days
TL;DR
- South Korea registered its highest temperature at 42.5C, causing crop destruction and significant livestock and fish deaths.
- Japan recorded temperatures over 40C, introducing a new category for 'cruelly hot days,' and experienced animal deaths at a zoo.
- Hong Kong set a new record high temperature, and its heat stress warning system for outdoor workers was criticized for being inadequate.
- Scientists link the extreme heat to human-induced global warming, stating such heatwaves would be virtually impossible otherwise.
- Farmers in South Korea face significant financial losses, with crop insurance schemes failing to cover all damages, leading to increased farm household debt.
- Experts warn that heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, and compound extreme weather events are increasing.