# Record heat ruins harvest in South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong 2026-08-13T05:42:10+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets South Korea recorded its hottest summer on record, with Yangsan hitting 42.5°C on August 2. A potato farmer in Gangwon province, Lee Sang-hyuk, found his crop destroyed, the tubers 'like boiled potatoes' in the soil. At least 31 deaths, over 9 lakh livestock, and 14 lakh farmed fish have died, the disease control agency reported. President Lee Jae Myung called for an overhaul of the national crisis system, saying extreme weather is 'the new normal'. In Japan, temperatures hit 40°C or higher, and three lions died of suspected heatstroke at a Tokyo zoo. Researchers said the July heatwave would have been 'virtually impossible' without global warming. Hong Kong recorded 36.9°C, its highest since 1884. The city’s heat-stress warning for outdoor workers stayed at its lowest level, drawing criticism from a former observatory head. China’s Xinjiang recorded 50°C, and North Korea reported tropical nights in Pyongyang. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com - livemint.com Tags: agriculture, climate change, heatwave, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/record-heat-in-south-korea-japan-hong-kong-ruins-harvests/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/record-heat-in-south-korea-japan-hong-kong-ruins-harvests/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.