South Korea's been suffocating under a heatwave for more than two weeks now.<br />But the good news is that, with showers in some regions today, it'll be a little cooler from now on, especially in the morning.<br />Hong Yoo reports. <br /> More than half of South Korea's weather stations recorded the hottest weather in the country's modern history.<br />According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, 28 weather stations marked new record highs last Wednesday on the 1st day of August.<br />Hongcheon, in Gangwondo-province, reached 41 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature South Korea's seen since records began in 1904.<br />Seoul too reached an all-time high of 39.6 degrees.<br /><br /> The heat's been continuing after dark and into the mornings, causing what meteorologists call "tropical nights."<br />For more than two weeks now, it hasn't gotten below 25 degrees.<br />In fact, in Seoul, on August 2nd and 3rd, it didn't even get below 30 -- what they call a" super tropical night."<br />The heat has caused 35 deaths, and made thousands more ill with heat stroke and other symptoms.<br /><br /> It's also caused power failures in some regions because the grid couldn't handle the sudden increase in demand for electricity to power fans and air conditioning.<br />Two apartments in the city of Goyang, just to the west of the capital, lost power last Thursday, leaving residents to suffer in the heat.<br />The South Korean Minister of the Interior and Safety commented on Facebook that the heatwave will soon be designated as a natural disaster, will free up funds for relief measures.<br /> The minister also said now is the right moment to spend time and money to make sure people can escape the heat.<br />The government's plan is to make sure people have ways to stay cool... which will include lowering electricity bills.<br /><br /> The killer heat is expected to diminish a little after this weekend but the daytime highs will continue to reach the mid-30s for a while.<br />Hong Yoo, Arirang News. <br />
