[Official] For the first time in history, all first-division and second-division games canceled due to extreme heat... the 5th and 6 will be days without baseball; KBO to hold emergency executive committee meeting tomorrow (the 6th)

*This content was translated by AI.

Due to successive heatwaves, the KBO League has halted for two consecutive days for the first time in history.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) officially announced on the 5th that "all scheduled KBO League and Futures League games on the 5th and 6 have been canceled. Additionally, an emergency executive committee meeting will be held on the 6th to discuss comprehensive measures related to extreme heat."

A double heat dome phenomenon caused by two high-pressure systems over the Korean Peninsula has led to sustained temperatures above 35℃ in the Seoul metropolitan area. As of 11 a.m. today, Severe Heat Warnings were issued for several areas including Seoul. The Severe Heat Warning is the highest level of the newly introduced heat warning system effective from June 1 this year, issued when the apparent temperature reaches or exceeds 35℃ for two consecutive days or is expected to reach 38℃ or higher in a single day.

In preparation, the KBO established criteria for game delays and cancellations on the previous day (the 4th) aligned with the Korea Meteorological Administration's standards for issuing heat warnings. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, if the daily maximum apparent temperature is expected to remain at or above 33℃ for two consecutive days, a "Heat Advisory" is issued; if it is expected to reach or exceed 35℃ for two consecutive days, a "Heat Warning" is issued; and if the daily maximum apparent temperature is expected to reach 38℃ or the daily maximum temperature is expected to reach 39℃, a "Severe Heat Warning" is issued.

Accordingly, the KBO allowed games to be delayed by up to one hour when a Heat Warning or higher is issued in the region where the stadium is located, reflecting the home team's opinion. In cases where a Severe Heat Warning is issued, game cancellations can be decided before 1 p.m. on the day of the game. As a first case on the previous day (the 4th), the Jamsil Doosan-NC game and the Gwangju KIA-KT game were canceled due to extreme heat.

However, an issue arose in the Incheon SSG-LG game where a Severe Heat Warning was not issued due to a temperature difference of only 1~2℃. Just before the top of the ninth inning, a spectator cheering for SSG collapsed. Umpires spent considerable time assessing the situation, after which paramedics approached the spectator and administered emergency first aid. According to the SSG team, the collapsed spectator was a healthy 25-year-old male. Immediately following reports from nearby spectators, An Jeon-yo-won (Team Lead) arrived on-site, confirmed that the patient was unconscious, and promptly called 119 while securing the airway. Suspected cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed for approximately 20 seconds at the scene, followed by one electric shock using an automated external defibrillator (AED) that arrived afterward. Emergency response continued swiftly on-site in accordance with 119 guidelines.

The SSG team stated, "The fan collapsed due to heat-related illness. He reportedly remembered cheering for Ahn Sang-hyun at the bottom of the eighth inning but has no memory after that." The team added, "Thanks to prompt measures, the patient regained consciousness on-site. Currently, accompanied by a team official, he is being transported to Gil Hospital for thorough medical evaluation."

The KBO stated, "As extreme heat continues nationwide, safety risks have emerged for spectators and player teams, which we take very seriously. An emergency executive committee meeting will be held with attendance from team managers and representatives of the Professional Baseball Players Association. During this meeting, we will discuss future comprehensive league operation policies and safety measures regarding extreme heat from the ground up, prioritizing the safety of spectators and player teams."

Meanwhile, the KBO decided to cancel all scheduled KBO League and Futures League games planned for today (the 5th) and tomorrow (the 6th) until a comprehensive countermeasure plan is established.

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*This content was translated by AI.