Heat Wave Claims Life of 20-Something Construction Worker in Gumi

A Vietnamese construction worker was found dead Tuesday at his workplace in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, presumably due to heat-related illness.

According to provincial rescue authorities, a colleague discovered the victim unresponsive and seated around 5:24 p.m. at an apartment construction site in the city. First responders from the Gumi Fire Station recorded the worker’s body temperature at 40.2 degrees Celsius.

Coworkers reported that the victim, a man in his 20s, had mentioned stopping by the bathroom just as they were about to end their shift after his first day on the job.

On that day, temperatures in Gumi peaked at 37.2 degrees Celsius. A heat wave warning had been in effect since June 29, following the Korea Meteorological Administration’s issuance of the season’s first heat advisory on June 20.

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday to determine the precise cause of death. Law enforcement has suspended operations at the construction site and plans to interview the victim’s acquaintances in Korea to investigate any potential underlying health conditions.

Officials will also examine whether the employers violated any workplace safety regulations.