South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung urges authorities to increase support for residents affected by a record heatwave as deaths are reported to be at least 16, with some reports citing 19 fatalities. Lee calls extreme weather more frequent and says it is becoming “normal,” urging officials to take prompt action rather than treat the conditions as temporary. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, he describes the situation as a national disaster and orders measures to protect people’s daily lives. Authorities extend their first-ever heat wave warning for all of Seoul, reflecting how severe the weather has become. Officials are also directed to inspect power systems, as air-conditioning demand rises during the hottest period. Reports link the extreme temperatures in parts of the country, including the southern region, to deaths and ongoing public health and infrastructure concerns. The heatwave follows record or near-record temperatures, including readings of around 42.5°C in the south, highlighting the scale of the challenge for emergency response and utility capacity as the heat continues.