Heat Deaths Rise Across U.S., Korea

Extreme heat is causing rising deaths and disrupting daily life, with risks concentrated among older adults and people living in vulnerable housing. In Arizona, where heat-related deaths number in the hundreds annually and Maricopa County’s toll often exceeds the nationwide annual number of deaths from major weather disasters, residents of manufactured homes face particular danger because such housing can be difficult to cool. A Stanford study found that older adults began traveling less once average daily temperatures reached 84 degrees Fahrenheit, potentially reducing exercise, social interaction and other activities associated with healthy aging. South Korea recorded 34 suspected heat-related deaths through August 2026, nearly four times the 2022 total, and people aged 60 and older accounted for 73.2% of deaths recorded over the past five years. The pattern underscores the need for targeted protections, rapid responses for high-risk residents and policies addressing both extreme temperatures and unsafe living conditions.