South Korea recorded its highest temperature since modern record-keeping began, with the mercury hitting 42.5C in the southern city of Yangsan on Sunday. The extreme heat has caused widespread disruption and hardship across the country and marks a significant escalation in the heatwaves affecting the region, underscoring growing concerns about the impact of rising global temperatures.

At least 19 people have died as a result of the heatwave, according to authorities. Seoul has been placed under a severe heat warning for the first time, using a system introduced by the government this year specifically to respond to increasingly extreme temperatures.