Authorities in South Korea use drones with loudspeakers and thermal imaging to warn elderly farmers to reduce work during the extreme heat wave.

Regional authorities in South Korea have mobilized drones equipped with speakers and thermal cameras to protect the elderly population in the context of an extreme heatwave. The measures have been implemented in North Gyeongsang Province, where temperatures have exceeded 41 degrees Celsius.

The drones fly over agricultural lands and broadcast messages urging elderly farmers to take breaks and avoid prolonged work, aiming to reduce illnesses caused by the heat. The system was developed in 2023 in collaboration with the Korea Forest Service and expanded to include heat-related warnings.

The drones can cover up to five kilometers and reach hard-to-access areas, identifying risks through thermal cameras. North Gyeongsang, with 16.7% of the country's agricultural households, is facing severe aging of the workforce, with most farmers being over 65 years old. President Lee Jae Myung declared the heatwave a 'national disaster,' mobilizing authorities after 21 deaths were reported due to extreme temperatures.