Tokyo (AsiaNews) - The heat wave that has held Japan in its grip since April 27, has killed 55 people. In the last week, 11,672 people were hospitalized for symptoms caused by excessive temperatures. 35,428 since April. The data provided so far by the department for the management of fires and disasters is the worst since 2008.
Yesterday was the fifth in a row with temperatures of 35 degrees in the center of Tokyo, the longest period in months. Humidity reached 90%. The Tokyo prefecture has reported the largest number of people suffering from heat stroke, 1,095, followed by Aichi (989) and Saitama (805).
Double the number of people are hospitalizedcompared with the same period last year, 48.7% of which are over 65. On Sunday alone, August 2, 2571 people were transported to hospitals around the country.
TheTokyo Fire Department has advised people to stay indoors as much as possible and with the air conditioning turned on. Interior Minister Sanae Takaichi said that 800 thousand leaflets with instructions to prevent heat stroke were distributed to the population
