Japan heatwave claims 18 lives as temperatures break records

More than 9,500 people across Japan were urgently hospitalised with heatstroke between July 28 and August 3 as a prolonged and intense heatwave continues to grip the country, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Eighteen fatalities have been reported during the same period.

The agency, which also oversees emergency medical services nationwide, said that 225 of those hospitalised are in serious condition and are expected to require treatment for over three weeks. Nearly 58 per cent of the patients were aged 65 or older, highlighting the vulnerability of elderly citizens during extreme weather events, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Japan has been enduring unusually high temperatures since June, with the situation worsening in early August. On August 4, the city of Isesaki in Gunma Prefecture recorded a searing 41.8°C (107.2°F) in the shade—the highest temperature ever observed in the country since records began in the late 19th century.

Authorities continue to urge the public to take precautions, including staying hydrated, avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat hours, and checking on elderly neighbors and relatives.

By Sabina Mammadli