Shanghai, China – A relentless heatwave is gripping Northeast Asia, forcing residents to find various ways to cope with the soaring temperatures. In Shanghai, a city of 25 million people, the sweltering heat has set a daily record for maximum demand on the power grid as people strive to stay cool.
In Japan, the heatwave has had deadly consequences. Over 100 people in Tokyo succumbed to suspected heat stroke in July, a month that saw the country’s hottest day since records began. With temperatures over 2°C above average, authorities have established cooling centers and mist-spraying stations for both tourists and locals. One local described the intensity, saying,
“After spending two hours standing here, I get so sweaty I can literally squeeze out the sweat from my shirt.”
Japanese schools are also struggling to cope. Children are unable to play outside, and older school buildings with poor insulation are straining their air conditioning systems to keep classrooms bearable.
In South Korea, Seoul has activated its special Situation Room to coordinate heat relief efforts. Street cleaning trucks are spraying roads to reduce surface temperatures, especially in urban areas. The city has experienced the “tropical night” phenomenon for over two weeks, with nighttime temperatures consistently remaining above 25°C. The heatwave is expected to persist for at least another week.
North Korea is facing a different climate challenge. Unprecedented summer rains have caused extensive flooding along its border with China. In response, leader Kim Jong-un has dispatched thousands of volunteers to aid in what state media calls a “revolutionary construction campaign.”
In Seoul, the success of a local farmer in growing bananas after a decade of effort highlights the region’s changing climate.
“The fact that bananas are produced in Seoul means the climate is becoming subtropical,” the farmer noted.
As the heatwave continues, questions loom about what the next summer might bring for South Korea and its neighbors. The ongoing extreme weather patterns underscore the growing impact of climate change in the region.