SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Yonhap) -- Temperatures topped 40 C in many parts of the country Friday, the state weather service said, underscoring the intensity of the ongoing extreme heat wave.

The mercury reached 40.7 C at an automatic weather station in Hanam's Deokpung district, just southeast of Seoul, at 2:32 p.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

In the city of Gwangyang, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, the temperature soared to 40.2 C at 2:37 p.m., the KMA said. Temperatures also rose to 39.8 C in the Gangwon Province county of Yeongweol and 39.6 C in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province.

In Seoul as well, temperatures exceeded 39 C, with the southwestern ward of Gangseo recording 39.2 C, the agency noted.

The number of heat wave days, when daytime highs are 33 C or higher, averaged 14.8 days nationwide from June 1 to Thursday, the fourth highest for the same period since the weather observation network was expanded nationwide in 1973.

The number of tropical nights, defined as nights with minimum temperatures of 25 C or higher, reached a record 13 days.

The extreme heat wave is expected to ease slightly over the weekend, though sweltering conditions are expected to persist. On Saturday, morning lows will range from 21 C to 26 C nationwide, and daytime highs will range from 26 C to 35 C, the KMA said.

ycm@yna.co.kr

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