Lions' death in Tokyo zoo amid heatwave

Seoul, South Korea, has been under the highest level of heat wave alert amid growing casualities and agricultural damage across the country.

The warning is issued when the actual daily maximum temperature is expected to hit 39 degrees or higher. On Sunday alone, 108 people had to be treated for heat-related illnesses at emergency rooms nationwide, bringing the number of patients to 2,025 since May 15th, while the death toll has reached 16.

More than 430,000 farm animals have also died across the country, resulting in grave agricultural damage.

Meanwhile Japan saw its history's first heat-related lion deaths in Tokyo's Tama Zoological Park. The lions were all born in the zoo and showed signs of severe dehydration and multiple organ failure in post-mortem exams. Lions are native to sub-Saharan Africa's dry heat instead of Tokyo highly humid heat, which makes it difficult for them to regulate their tempertures.

Temperatures in Tokyo rose to nearly 39 degrees in July, triggering heat stroke warnings.