(LEAD) Heat wave to continue for another 10 days as temperatures in Yeoju rise to 40 C

The current heat wave, accompanied by tropical nights and daily highs reaching as high as 40 C, is expected to continue for at least another 10 days, the weather agency said Sunday. On Sunday, temperatures in Yeoju, 64 kilometers southeast of Seoul, rose as high as to 40 C, marking the first time since 2018, as special heat wave warnings were in effect across the country. The previous day, the southern city of Yangsan recorded its highest temperature at 39.3 C. Gangneung on the east coast recorded its 16th consecutive tropical night on Sunday. The Korea Meteorological Administration predicted that daytime temperatures will remain above average, ranging from 30 C and 36 C across the country during the week leading up to Aug. 14, continuing the ongoing heat wave. Some parts of the country may also experience consecutive tropical nights. If temperatures rise further, this summer could match the extreme heat of 2018, which was the hottest on record, with the highest daily temperature of 41 C observed in Hon gcheon, 80 km east of Seoul that year. Source: Yonhap News Agency