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South Korea’s professional baseball league has cancelled all games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday as an extreme heatwave continues to affect the country.
The Korea Baseball Organisation (KBO) made the decision after temperatures hit new highs three times in the past week, reaching 42.5°C in Yangsan on Sunday.
The cancellations came a day after President Lee Jae Myung called on authorities to treat the heatwave as a national disaster and take urgent measures to protect lives.
Parts of Seoul remained under the highest-level heat alert on Wednesday, issued when the heat index is expected to reach 38°C or temperatures are forecast to hit at least 39°C.
The KBO said it cancelled the August 5 and 6 games because of the health risks posed to players and spectators by the extreme temperatures.
“We have decided to call off all games on August 5-6 until comprehensive safety measures are established,” the KBO said in a statement.
Local reports said 10 games scheduled across the country for Wednesday and Thursday were affected.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said 2,221 people had suffered heat-related illnesses between May 15 and August 3, with an estimated 19 deaths.
The KBO said it would hold an emergency meeting with club officials and representatives of the players’ association to consider additional safety measures.
The league had already cancelled two games on Tuesday in Seoul and Gwangju after several spectators collapsed from the heat.
