Tokyo, Jul 25 (EFE).- Japanese authorities on Tuesday issued heatstroke alerts as temperatures exceeded 35 degree Celsius in many prefectures, particularly in the eastern and western parts of the country.
Authorities have advised citizens to take extreme precautions against possible heat strokes amid the ongoing heatwave that may persist at least for the week.
On Tuesday, major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka saw the mercury reach 36 degrees, while in Saitama and Chiba the temperatures touched 38 and 37 degrees, respectively.
The sweltering temperatures prompted the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Ministry of Environment to issue alerts for possible heat strokes in many regions of the country, including the Okinawa archipelago in the south.
JMA forecast that a high-pressure system from the Pacific would continue to keep the weather dry and sunny at least for the rest of the week with a strong sunshine that will drive up the temperatures as the rainy season comes to a close.
Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported that the number of people being rushed to hospitals for suspected heat strokes has increased in recent days.
The authorities in the regions affected by heatwaves advised people to use air conditioners for keeping the rooms below the 28 degrees, stay hydrated and to avoid excessive outdoor activities during the afternoons.
The meteorological department has forecast that the temperatures this week would touch 38 degrees Celsius in some prefectures, with the ongoing heatwave set to continue into August.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Japan was 41.1 degree Celsius, in the city of Kumagaya, in Saitama Prefecture, in 2018.
Last week, some regions experienced their highest temperatures in four decades including the town of Hirono, Fukushima Prefecture, with 37.3 degrees and Nasushiobara in Tochigi Prefecture with 35.4 degrees. EFE
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