<Anchor>



I was informed that a heat wave will continue in Europe, but it is the same in the central and southern United States.

President Biden declared a state of emergency after massive power outages and fires followed in the heat of over 50 degrees Celsius.



This is Washington correspondent Yunsu Kim.



<Reporter> The



ground is cracked, and large-scale fires are occurring one after another.



In the central and southern regions of the United States, large-scale blackouts are continuing as the demand for electricity surges in the heat of over 40 degrees every day.



[Kyla Grims / Resident of Arkansas, USA: At night, I sleep in there and I can't breathe.

Then you have to get out.]



In some areas, temperatures soared over 50 degrees, which is close to the record high of 56 degrees measured in California in 1913.



The city of Austin, Texas, set a new record by exceeding 37 degrees for 40 days in a row.



[Hyun Kim / Resident of San Antonio, Texas, USA: I was in Daegu when I was in Korea.

You can think of it as twice the heat of Daegu.

Text messages to conserve electricity and water continue to appear as warnings.]



More than half of 28 states have issued heatwave warnings, and it is estimated that about a quarter of the US population is exposed to heat exceeding 40 degrees. .



U.S. President Biden declared an emergency and announced all-out measures, including an investment of 3 trillion won to respond to heat waves and climate change.


Enlarging an image

[Biden/President of the United States: This is an emergency.

We will consider it an emergency and take action.

As President, I will mobilize administrative measures to combat climate change.]



We did not declare a national emergency because it was pointed out that inflation could fuel the rise in energy prices.



However, as the heat wave in the United States is predicted to reach its peak this weekend, there is also a forecast that additional measures, including the declaration of a national emergency, will be taken if the situation worsens.



(Video coverage: Jeong-sik Oh, video editing: Ho-jin Kim)