In South Korea, the heat was so severe that 17 people died in just one weekend in July, despite heat warnings issued. Some carried on their lives as usual, not realising the toll the sweltering weather was taking.
In China, some farmers anticipated the heatwaves and adjusted their growing cycles. Those who did so saved their crops – those who did not, saw a dismal harvest.
Meanwhile, the poor, who are unable to install air conditioning in their homes – like those living in Hong Kong’s “coffin flats” – or who live homeless are suffering from the heat and humidity.
Increased heat also leads to bigger storms. In the middle of filming, our crew received a typhoon warning. Just like that, the beating sun was replaced by heavy rains and 150kmh winds, halting production for two weeks.
In Hebei, China, we got a rare glimpse of the destruction on the ground after some of the worst floods in decades.
Experts warn that this year’s heat wave is not an anomaly, but a sign of things to come. In filming this episode, we realised how much we will have to change the way we live and work, if the killer heat returns each year.
This year’s summer broke heat records. But it’s a record that may not stand for long.
Daniel Heng
Executive Producer, Insight
