6 People Die From Heatwave In Tokyo As Temperatures Soar To 40ºC
Take note if you're travelling to Japan soon.
By Tamara Jayne — 12 Jul 2024, 11:44 AM
Six people have died of heatstroke in Tokyo, Japan, as the country battles a heatwave
Authorities have issued heatstroke alerts, while medical experts plan to add a "most severe" category to the current heatstroke index, reported The Mainichi.
The classification of heatstroke severity in Japan is as follows: mild (grade I), characterised by dizziness, profuse sweating, and muscle pain; moderate (grade II), involving headaches, vomiting, and fatigue; and severe (grade III), which includes disturbances of consciousness and convulsive seizures.
With temperatures reaching as high as 40ºC in some areas, the heat strain is reportedly causing damage to public health comparable to that of a "natural disaster"
Such severe heat is considered "rare" during the rainy season in Japan.
The death toll from heat-related illnesses has risen from a few hundred to around 1,500 in 2022, according to The Guardian.
On 8 July, the Japan Meteorological Agency recorded that 86 people, aged between 15 and 93, were hospitalised for suspected heatstroke.
Health authorities have been urging the public not to go outside unless necessary and to avoid physical activities, as temperatures will remain in the upper 30s in the coming days.
Heatstroke is especially lethal in Japan, given that the country has the second-oldest population globally
The public has been using "cooling shelters" established around Tokyo as part of a new initiative this year, mandating local governments to offer people relief from the heat following issued warnings.
