Another 22,647 taken to hospital as record-breaking weather is declared a natural disaster
An “unprecedented” heatwave in Japan has killed at least 65 people in one week, government officials have said, with the weather agency classifying the record-breaking weather as a natural disaster.
The deaths in the week to Sunday were due to heatstroke, while another 22,647 people were admitted to hospital, the Japanese fire and disaster management agency said.
Both figures were the worst ever for any week during the summer since the agency began recording heatstroke deaths in July 2008, an agency spokesman said.
The agency said on Tuesday that 80 people had died from the heat since the beginning of the month, and more than 35,000 had been admitted to hospital.
A six-year-old boy who lost consciousness on his way back from a school field trip was among those who died.
“As a record heatwave continues to blanket the country, urgent measures are required to protect the lives of schoolchildren,” said Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary.
