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Korea's power authorities are on high alert as the demand for electricity has reached
its all-time-high with a prolonged heat wave that has lasted for more than a month.
The scorching summer heat is not only taking a toll on the country's backup power but also
has claimed the lives of at least two people over the past week.
Our Kim Ji-yeon reports. Korea is facing one of the most critical power shortages, due
to high demand for electricity following an unprecedented heat wave that has hit the country.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said on Sunday it is almost certain that the
level of reserves will plummet ... to levels just shy of a critical lack in power ... since
the demand for electricity is expected to surpass its supply.
This means officials may issue a level 4 warning, which is the second highest level following
level 5 and signals the country's power reserve has fallen below 2-million kilowatts.
If a level 4 warning is issued, then businesses must resort to their emergency power supply
and public institutions will experience a suspension in their electricity.
Moreover, if the reserves fall even further to the degree of less than one-million kilowatts,
then Korea may experience a major blackout similar to the one that hit the country in
September 2011. After an emergency meeting on Sunday, Energy
Minister Yoon Sang-jick laid out the details on the severity of the situation and asked
the public for its cooperation in saving power.
"The demand for electricity is forecasted to exceed the 80-million kilowatt mark for
the next three days. It is a very dangerous situation. If one energy plant malfunctions,
we may have to undergo rolling blackouts as we did in September two years ago."
Meanwhile, the recent heat wave has shown no signs of dying down with the Korea Meteorological
Administration issuing heat wave warnings by Sunday afternoon across most parts of the
country. So far two people both in their 70s have died
while working in the fields in the heat. Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.