An intense heat wave gripping the Korean Peninsula is shifting westward, with the greater Seoul area bracing for conditions even hotter than in past weeks and authorities rolling out measures to protect vulnerable residents. As of 3 p.m. Monday, the day's highest temperature reached 41.1 degrees Celsius in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, followed by 40.9 degrees in Daegu and 40.7 degrees in Uiryeong, South Gyeongsang Province. Seoul's highest perceived temperature reached 36.1 degrees. The heat in western regions is expected to intensify further as low-level winds near the surface shift to easterlies, pushing the foehn phenomenon into the greater Seoul area, west of the Baekdudaegan mountain range. The range runs from Mount Baekdu in the far north to Mount Jiri in the south. The phenomenon, which occurs when wind crosses a mountain range and becomes hotter and drier on the other side, has been a major driver of the recent record heat in South Gyeongsang Province. The intensifying heat is already taking a toll. As of Saturday, 1,889 people had suffered heat-related illnesses and 14 had