Heatstroke kills more than 120 people in Tokyo during record temperatures

More than 37,000 people were treated at hospitals for heatstroke across Japan from July 1 to July 28

People cool off at a cooling mist spot on July 4, 2024, in Tokyo (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

More than 120 people died of heatstroke in the Tokyo metropolitan area in July, when the nation's average temperature hit record highs and heat warnings were in effect much of the month, Japanese authorities said on Tuesday.

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.

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 July 1 to July 28, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

Japan Heat Stroke (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The average temperature in July was 2.16 degrees Celsius (3.89 degrees Fahrenheit) 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 34 C (93 F) in downtown Tokyo, where many people carried parasols or handheld fans.

“I feel every year the hot period is getting longer,” said Hidehiro Takano from Kyoto. “I have the aircon 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 35 C (95 F) or higher.

“Please pay attention to temperature forecasts and heatstroke alerts and take adequate precautions to prevent heatstroke,” it said in a statement.

Meanwhile in China extreme heat baked megacities on the eastern seaboard and sharply pushed up demand for power to cool homes and offices, while scorching temperatures in China’s interior stoked fears of damage to rice crops.

The megacity of Hangzhou, home to 12.5 million people and some of China’s largest companies, banned all non-essential outdoor lighting and light shows this week to conserve energy as extreme heat tested power grids, local authorities said.