Japan’s heatwave is ‘threat to life’
Tokyo
Japan has declared the heatwave sweeping the country a natural disaster after it caused the deaths of at least 65 people in the past week.
The country’s weather agency warned ‘unprecedented levels of heat’ were being recorded in some areas, leading to more than 22,000 hospital admissions.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that temperatures of 35C or even higher would continue until early August.
In central Tokyo, temperatures have topped 40C for the first time, while the highest ever temperatures in Japan were recorded in the city of Kumagaya on Monday when the mercury soared to 41.1C – or 106F.
"We are observing unprecedented levels of heat in some areas," said Motoaki Takekawa, spokesman for the Japan weather agency. He described the heatwave as ‘a threat to life and we recognise it as a natural disaster’.
The public is being advised to drink plenty of water, to use air conditioning and to rest often.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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