Japan classifies heatwave as ‘natural disaster’ as hottest temperatures ever recorded claim 80 lives

japan-classifies-heatwave-as-natural-disaster-as-hottest-temperatures-ever-recorded-claim-80-lives

The Japan Meteorological Agency has classified the current heatwave as a 'natural disaster.' The announcement comes as record-breaking heatwave claimed lives of at least 80 people since the beginning of July. The extreme weather is expected to continue into early August.

An 'unprecedented' heatwave with temperatures soaring above 40 °C (104 °F) engulfed Japan immediately after one of their worst flooding disasters ever at the beginning of July.

On July 23, the temperatures in capital Tokyo rose to 40.8 °C (105.4 °F) for the first time ever while the city of Kumagaya in Saitama outside Tokyo set a new national heat record, with temperatures hitting 41.1 °C (105.9 °F). This temperature in Kumagaya was reached at 14:16 local time, breaking the previous record of 41.0 °C (105.8 °F) set in Shimanto, Kochi Prefecture in August 2013.

In Kyoto, the temperatures remained above 38 °C (100.4 F) for 7 consecutive days for the first time since measurements began.

YouTube video

The number of people who have been taken to hospitals by Tokyo’s ambulances due to heatstroke this year stood at 3 544 on the same day, already surpassing the 3 454 for the entire 2017.

In the week to Sunday, July 22, at least 65 people died of heatstroke while 22 647 people were hospitals. Both figures are 'the worst-ever for any week during summer' since the country's Fire and Disaster Management Agency began recording fatalities resulting from heatstroke in July 2008.

The agency said Tuesday, July 24, that a total of 80 people have died due to heat and over 35 000 have been hospitalized since July 9.

"As a record heatwave continues to blanket the country, urgent measures are required to protect the lives of schoolchildren," top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said today.

Less than half of Japan’s public schools have air conditioning, and the figure is only slightly higher at public kindergartens.

The heat wave has been baking the nation for weeks while survivors of the rain disaster in western Japan continue to recover from fatal floods and hundreds of landslides earlier this month, The Japan Times reports.

JMA said the heatwave is expected to continue into early August, urging people to drink water frequently and take measures to prevent heatstroke.

Featured image credit: nachans

Share:

Commenting rules and guidelines

We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:

  • Treat others with kindness and respect.
  • Stay on topic and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
  • Do not use abusive or hateful language.
  • Do not spam or promote unrelated products or services.
  • Do not post any personal information or content that is illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

One Comment

  1. Isaiah 51:19-23 and Act 7:5-7 help us to see that God is a Good God of Justice for we and our forfathers have sined against our God! and so we and our children were indeed taken away from the land of our forfathers in given to the Nations of the hole Earth to be walked on and trampled on by them, but now that punnishment has come to a end and has been given to the children of those who hated the children of God. It was your ansisters who inslaved and then mistreated the true Isreal of God who are the blacks who were given over as slaves and those 10 tribe Indians who were in America first who were truely the first black people who lived in America who because of the sins of there forfathers came to America as outcast to live. They also worship fals god’s who cannot save but that time is over for the chosen children of them and also those who will go with them to the land of the king of the North, to Zion the great city! Isaiah 52:1-18

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *