More than 450 people received hospital treatment for heat-related issues in a single day in Tokyo – the highest number since records began 16 years ago, emergency services said on Thursday (Jul 23).

The figure was released as Japan sweltered in a heatwave that has killed at least 14 people over the past week.

A total 453 people had hospital treatment for heat-related issues on Wednesday, the most since records began in 2010, the Tokyo Fire Department said. 

Emergency callouts were also at the highest level since at least 1963.

“We are urging people to stay hydrated and use air conditioners,” a fire brigade spokesman told AFP.

The number of patients appeared to rise as temperatures climbed, with notable increases on Tuesday and Wednesday, the spokesman said.

In Tokyo prefecture – home to around 14 million people – one person had died in the current heatwave with four others in a critical condition and 18 in a serious state, he said.

Nick Estes, 35, an American tourist visiting the Asakusa area of Tokyo with his family, said Thursday the weather was “extremely hot”.

“We’ve been planning our trips around trying to make sure we can spend time in the metro to cool off, finding little shops to pop into to maybe buy a little souvenir that has air conditioning, doing everything we can to stay cool,” Estes told AFP.

“But especially with younger kids, it’s been absolutely brutal … I was here last summer, actually, and somehow it actually feels even hotter this year than it did a year ago.”

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency has dubbed the heatwave a “disaster”, reporting on Wednesday at least 14 deaths across the country over the previous week and 11,000 people seeking emergency medical care.

“DISASTER”

In the central region of Aichi, which includes Nagoya and is experiencing some of the most intense heat, 116 people were taken to hospital on Wednesday, officials said.

Heatstroke alerts have been issued for almost the whole country of around 125 million people.

“Temperatures have been rising since mid-July, and severe heat is expected to continue nationwide,” the disaster agency said.

“It is no exaggeration to call this extreme heat a ‘disaster’ with many people being rushed to hospitals or even dying as a result of heatstroke,” it said.

On Thursday, at least six places experienced 40°C temperatures or hotter by early afternoon, while the mercury rose to 39.9°C in three other locations.

The hottest place was Hamamatsu in the central Shizuoka region at 41.1°C.

It was followed by Toyota city – headquarters of the car giant – in the neighbouring Aichi region at 40.8°C and Kuwana in Mie at 40.7°C.

Japan’s highest recorded temperature was registered on Aug 5, 2025, at 41.8°C in Isesaki, north of Tokyo.

Japan introduced this year a new term to describe heat above 40C called “kokushobi”, which translates to “cruelly hot day”.

The new term was designed to draw greater public attention to heat-related warnings, although it does not trigger any official measures nationwide.

“HOTTER AND HOTTER”

Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events in Japan and elsewhere.

Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year.

“You leave the hotel at 8.30 … it feels as if it was noontime. And as the day progresses, it just gets hotter and hotter and hotter,” said Yesenia Gueta, 47, visiting from Los Angeles.

“Now I understand why (Japanese) clothing is loose, why they wear the umbrellas all the time. I mean, it is extreme. And I agree with that term,” Gueta said.

“Since it’s like this in mid-July, I wonder what’s going to happen in August. I’m worried,” said Japanese university student Nukochama, 24.

“I carry a big fan like this, fully charged, so I can turn it on anytime.” (CNA/ AFP)

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At least 85 people have died from suspected heat stress and related issues in the past 24 hours in the states of Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, the Hindustan Times reported.

The maximum number of casualties was reported in Odisha, which has been reeling under intense heatwave conditions for the past few days, exacerbated further by high humidity that pushed the index to north of 50°C.

In the eastern state, a total of 46 people died of suspected heat stress in a span of 24 hours, prompting the state government to call for an inquiry by senior officials in the health department.

According to officials, five deaths were reported in Rourkela town of Sundargarh, Sambalpur and Bolangir districts on Friday.

On Thursday, the officials added, 41 people died due to similar reasons. In Rourkela government hospital, eight people were declared dead on arrival between 1.30pm and 8pm on Thursday while two more died shortly after they arrived.

Director of public health, Nilakantha Mishra, said though the exact cause of the deaths can be ascertained only after a post-mortem examination, prima facie it appeared that they occurred as the deceased were working outdoors in the heat during peak hours.

The humidity levels soared past 80% in several coastal areas, according to data provided by the India Meteorological Department. (Hindustan Times)

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The temperature felt on the human body will remain high over the next two weeks, the Department of Meteorology said. 

Senior Meteorologist Chaminda de Silva said that the situation is not expected to ease until the southwest monsoon currents begin to develop around the island.

He added that southwest wind currents are expected to develop by the second week of May. 

De Silva urged the public to exercise caution over the next 14 days and to heed all health advisories. (Newswire)

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