Tokyo residents have been urged to pay attention to heatstroke warnings as high temperatures continue into August.
ADVERTISEMENTMore than 120 people died of heatstroke in Tokyo in July, Japanese authorities said on Tuesday.
The nation's average temperature hit record highs and heat warnings were in effect much of the month.
According to the Tokyo Medical Examiner's Office, many of the 123 people who died were elderly. All but two were found dead indoors, and most were not using air conditioners despite having them installed.
Japanese health authorities and weather forecasters repeatedly advised people to stay indoors, consume ample liquids to avoid dehydration and use air conditioning, because elderly people often think that air conditioning is not good for one's health and tend to avoid using it.
Japan's hottest July since records began
It was the largest number of heatstroke deaths in Tokyo's 23 metropolitan districts in July since 127 deaths were recorded during a 2018 heatwave, the medical examiner's office said.
More than 37,000 people were treated at hospitals for heatstroke across Japan from 1-28 July, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
The average temperature in July was 2.16 degrees Celsius higher than the average over the past 30 years, making it the hottest July since the Japan Meteorological Agency began keeping records in 1898.
On Tuesday, heatstroke warnings were in place in much of Tokyo and western Japan. The temperature rose to about 34C in downtown Tokyo, where many people carried parasols or handheld fans.
Tokyo residents turn up air con as heat continues in August
“I feel every year the hot period is getting longer,” said Hidehiro Takano from Kyoto. “I have the air con on all the time, including while I’m sleeping. I try not to go outside.”
Maxime Picavet, a French tourist, showed a portable fan he bought in Tokyo. “It works very, very well,” he said. “With this temperature, it's a necessity."
The meteorological agency predicted more heat in August, with temperatures of 35C or higher.
“Please pay attention to temperature forecasts and heatstroke alerts and take adequate precautions to prevent heatstroke,” it said in a statement.
