South Korea records highest temperature in more than 100 years as Yangsan hits 42.5C

Yangsan is the epicentre of a heat wave, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days. People have flocked to air-conditioned shopping malls and cafes to escape the heat, AFP reports.

In several parts of South Korea, the country's national weather and climate agency is warning about the heat. The agency is urging residents to "immediately cease all outdoor activities" and warns that "indoor spaces without air conditioning are dangerous."

Data from the weather and climate authority shows that the average number of days with heat waves in the country has more than doubled since the 1970s.