Japan heatwave: 14 dead and thousands treated for heatstroke as temperatures rocket to 40 degrees

Scorching heat accompanied by high humidity created deadly conditions

A volunteer, for recovery work, wipes his sweat as he takes a break in a heat wave at a flood affected area in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture (REUTERS)

At least 14 people have died and thousands have been treated in hospital after an intense heatwave swept across Japan over the weekend.

Temperatures rocketed to close to 40C in some inland areas on Monday and were accompanied by high humidity, producing dangerous conditions, according to the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA).

One of the victims of the high temperatures was a woman in her 90s who was found unconscious in a field, according to local media.

Six people died on Saturday, two people died on Sunday, and five died on Monday. Roughly 2,000 were treated for heatstroke, reported Kyodo News.

The unrelenting heat comes just a week after 200 people were killed in deadly floods in western Japan.

Recovery efforts were hampered over the weekend as military personnel and volunteers struggled to continue during the unusual spike in temperature.

A pool in Tokyo's Toshimaen amusement park; the Japanese capital recorded a high of 36.3 C on 16 July (EPA)

“It’s really hot. All we can do is keep drinking water,” one man in Okayama told NHK television.

The heat was most intense in landlocked areas such as Gifu prefecture, where it soared to 39.3C in the town of Ibigawa on Monday – the hottest in the nation. The capital Tokyo recorded a high of 34C on Monday.

Temperatures of 35C or above – known in Japanese as “intensely hot days” – were recorded at 200 locations around Japan on Sunday, the JMA said, which is unusual for July but not unprecedented.

Last year, 48 people died from heat between May and September, with 31 deaths in July, according to Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

This year's heatwave was due to the layering of two high pressure systems over much of Japan and is expected to continue for the rest of the week if not longer, the JMA said.

Additional reporting by Reuters