Tokyo reports record heatwave hospitalizations; one dead

Tokyo experienced a record number of hospitalizations due to extreme heat on Wednesday, marking the highest daily count since 2010. One person died from the high temperatures, and four others are in critical condition, according to the fire department.

The Tokyo Fire Department reported that 453 people were taken to hospitals on Wednesday, the highest number since statistics began in 2010. The number of emergency service dispatches also reached a 63-year peak on the same day. "We urge people to stay hydrated and use air conditioning," a fire department spokesperson said Thursday.

"The number of patients seems to have increased with the temperatures. We saw a significant rise yesterday and the day before," the spokesperson explained. The deceased individual was in Tokyo prefecture, while four others remain in critical condition, and 18 others are in serious condition. In Aichi prefecture, 116 people were hospitalized for heat-related ailments.

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We urge people to stay hydrated and use air conditioning.

Temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in Mie, Gifu, and Shizuoka prefectures. Japan recently introduced the term "kokušobi," meaning "cruel hot day," for temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius to raise public awareness. In the past week, nearly 11,000 people sought medical help, and 14 have died nationwide.

Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves to climate change. Japan endured its hottest summer last year, with a record high of 41.8 degrees Celsius recorded in Isesaki city.

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The number of patients seems to have increased with the temperatures. We saw a significant rise yesterday and the day before.