Electricity demand in South Korea has soared to a record high amid the prolonged heat wave gripping the nation.  
 
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said on Thursday that the average power demand between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. stood at around 87-point-6 million kilowatts. It surpassed the previous record set on Wednesday, at 86-point-71 million kilowatts. It's the third day in a row the record has been broken. 

The ministry said the electricity reserve rate, measured as 11-point-eight percent as of 5 p.m., was sufficient.

Early this month, the government said it expects the maximum electricity demand this summer to be 88-point-three million kilowatts. 

Officials said the record is expected to be broken several more times in the coming weeks.