South Korea records its highest-ever temperature of 42.5°C

South Korea registered its highest temperature since records began more than a century ago on Sunday, as authorities warned people to "immediately" stop all outdoor activities in affected areas.



The southeastern city of Yangsan saw the temperature reach 42.5°C at 1.26pm local time.



Yangsan has been the epicentre of the ongoing heatwave, where temperatures exceeded 40°C for a fifth consecutive day on Sunday, while many other cities including Daegu and Busan are seeing temperatures climb into the high 30s.



People flocked to air-conditioned shopping malls or cafes to escape the blistering temperatures.





More than 20 localities were under emergency heatwave alerts on Sunday - a new warning category introduced this year to better address rising temperatures.