‘Life-Threatening’ Heat Wave May Hit Japan

The weather agency in Japan on Wednesday has warned of a “life-threatening” heat wave in many parts of the country, with temperatures expected to hit nearly 40 degrees Celsius in some areas.

Already about six people have lost their lives and about hundreds more were taken to hospital for heatstroke on Tuesday.

“One of the victims was a six-year-old primary school student in the central city of Toyota who became unconscious at school after returning from a field trip and later died,’’ local media reported.

The Meteorological Agency said in the city of Kumagaya, north of Tokyo, the temperature was expected to rise to 39 degrees Celsius, while the daytime high in the capital was about 35 degrees.

According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, recently, no fewer than 12 people died of heatstroke and 9,956 people were taken to hospital in Japan.

The Meteorological Agency forecast relentless heat will continue until the end of July.

The sweltering heat came just a week after about 220 people were killed in floods and landslides that were triggered by torrential rains in western Japan.