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South Korea reaches record-breaking temperatures

a man in a blue shirt with his head in hands and a woman wearing black drinking water, both standing in front of big fans.Image source, Reuters
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Sunday was the hottest day in the country in more than 100 years

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South Korea has had its hottest day since records began this weekend.

Authorities in the countries have asked people to stop any outdoors activities and keep out of the heat.

Yangsan in the South-East of the country saw temperatures soar to 42.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, which is the highest temperature reported since modern weather observation began in 1904, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

Sunday was also the fifth day in a row that had reached more than 40C degrees.

kids and family playing in a water fountain in a South Korean city.Image source, Reuters
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People are using local water fountains to cool off

Other cities such as Daegu and Busan have also been experiencing a heatwave, with temperatures there consistently in the high 30s.

And South Korea's professional baseball league was forced to cancel a game in the city of Changwon because of the weather.

"The decision was made with the safety and health of spectators and players as the top priority, as a severe heatwave warning remains in effect for the Changwon area," said the Korea Baseball Organisation in a statement.

a child with his eyes closed in water sprays.Image source, Reuters
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People are being urged to stay indoors where possible

More than 20 areas in South Korea have received new emergency heatwave alerts, which were introduced earlier this year.

They're sent when temperatures are either predicted to be 38C, or actually are 39C.

The Korean weather service said people should "immediately stop all outdoor activities", adding that "indoor spaces without air conditioning are dangerous".

"Move immediately to a cool place, such as a designated cooling centre or a shaded area, and stay hydrated while resting," it advised.

The government is also putting in extra checks to residents in local areas to make sure everyone's keeping safe in the extreme heat.

Heatwaves around the world

a brown field with green trees and a river in the top right hand corner.Image source, PA Media
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Lots of parks in the UK, like this one in Warwick, are completely dry as a result of the ongoing high temperatures

Nearby North Korea is experiencing record temperatures too - in the capital Pyongyang, it has not been cooler than 25C at night for almost a week.

Heatwaves are having a big impact in Europe right now too.

In the UK, there have been four record-breaking heatwaves since May so far this summer.

And the intense heat has caused wildfires in some parts of Europe, such as Italy, Spain and France, as well as in England, Scotland and Wales.