Extreme heat in Gyeonggi Province has caused the death of approximately 137,000 livestock [1].

This mass mortality threatens the regional agricultural economy and disrupts the dairy supply chain as animals struggle to survive rising temperatures.

The deaths occurred during a period of intense heat in 2026, characterized by temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius [1]. A severe heat warning was issued for the metropolitan area as the weather remained stifling. This temperature spike caused internal livestock barn temperatures to rise rapidly, leading to fatal heat stress among the animals.

At a dairy farm in Hwaseong, reporters observed about 130 dairy cows [1]. The animals appeared exhausted by the heat, and farmers said there was a significant drop in feed consumption. This lack of appetite and thermal stress have directly impacted milk yields.

Data from the Hwaseong facility shows that the average daily raw milk production in May was 2,400 liters [1]. However, recent figures show production has plummeted to a low of 1,900 liters per day [1].

"In the midst of a severe heat warning in the metropolitan area, the sweltering heat continues," an anchor from YTN News said [1].

Reporter Choi Ki-seong, who visited the Hwaseong site, described the scene of the struggle. "Looking around the barn, we could see the dairy cows exhausted by the heat," Choi said [1].

The scale of the loss, affecting over 137,000 animals across the province, highlights the vulnerability of livestock to rapid temperature swings. Farmers are facing both the immediate loss of assets and a long-term decline in productivity as surviving animals recover from heat-induced stress.

“Extreme heat in Gyeonggi Province has caused the death of approximately 137,000 livestock.”

The mass death of livestock in Gyeonggi Province underscores the increasing risk that climate volatility poses to food security. When heat stress reduces milk yields and kills thousands of animals, it creates a supply shock that can lead to higher consumer prices and financial instability for small-scale farmers who lack advanced climate-controlled infrastructure.