Heatwave sends 18 347 to hospitals, claims 57 lives in 7 days, Japan
Image credit: GFS/TropicalTidbits
Heatwave conditions across Japan claimed lives of at least 57 people and sent 18 347 to hospitals from July 29 to August 4, 2019, the country's Disaster Management Agency said on Tuesday, August 6.
This is more than triple the previous week's 5 664 and the second-highest since records began in 2008, according to the agency.
More than 1 800 were hospitalized in capital Tokyo alone (population 9.3 million) where temperatures have been stuck above 31 °C (87.8 °F) since July 24.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the city suffers from a 'heat island effect,' preventing it from cooling off at night.
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