TOKYO - Tokyo marks exactly two years to the start of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on Tuesday (July 24) amid a murderous heatwave that is taking its toll throughout Japan.

The mercury soared to a scorching 41.1 deg C in Kumagaya city in Saitama prefecture in the Greater Tokyo region at 2.16pm on Monday (July 23), setting a new record for the highest temperature that has ever been logged in all of Japan.

This topped the previous record of 41.0 deg C set in August 2013 in Kochi prefecture in western Japan.

In the Japanese capital, the temperature also breached 40 deg C for the first time on Monday (July 23), with a reading of 40.8 deg C registered in the western district of Ome.

At least 77 people, mostly the elderly, have died, including a pupil who fell unconscious after a school outing last week, and more than 30,000 have been taken to hospital for heat exhaustion or heat stroke this month.

The crippling heat has also complicated relief efforts in western Japan, which was pummelled two weeks ago by historic rainfall that caused flooding and landslides, killing at least 222 people and displacing thousands from their homes.

A tally by public broadcaster NHK on Monday (July 23) showed that as many as 38 Tokyo residents could have died due to the heatwave this month, with 21 deaths recorded between Friday and Sunday. The victims were in their 40s to 90s.

At least nine people died on Monday, the Kyodo news agency said. In the south-western prefecture of Miyazaki, nine high school students who were watching a baseball game were stricken and taken to hospital, with some in severe condition.

Two Singaporeans who live and work in Tokyo also experienced symptoms of heat exhaustion over the weekend.

Ms Nur Rosmawati, 27, who works in international business development at a publishing house, told The Straits Times that she “blacked out for a few seconds” during a five-minute walk between her home and a nearby convenience store on Saturday morning (July 21).

“It was not sheltered but I had my umbrella with me. At the entrance of the convenience store, I started to feel faint and my ears started to ring,” she said, adding that she recovered after she ate an energy bar and had a hydrating drink.

“The humidity now is somewhat similar to that in Singapore, but the temperatures are way higher,” she said.

What makes matters worse is that malls and offices in Tokyo tend not to turn down the air-conditioning, as part of energy conservation measures.

Ms Layla Tan, 28, an international business adviser who has lived in Tokyo for 3½ years, too fell victim to heat exhaustion on Sunday.

“First I felt a migraine-like headache. I drank lots of water but by then it was too late,” she said. “The headache got worse, and I started feeling nauseous, followed by muscle aches.”

She said she sought outpatient treatment when she felt better. The Tokyo Fire Department dispatched ambulances 3,125 times on Sunday alone, the largest number in a single day since it began emergency services in 1936, Kyodo reported.

While weather forecasts show some slight respite for Tokyo this week, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) official Motoaki Takekawa told reporters on Monday that wide areas across Japan will continue to experience temperatures above 35 deg C until early August.

This is due to two high-pressure systems that have compressed warm air to the ground, akin to two thick layers of blankets covering the Japanese archipelago, the JMA said.

The JMA has issued advisories covering nearly all of Japan except northernmost Hokkaido – which has been spared the heatwave – urging people to drink more water and take adequate measures against heatstroke.

Dr Joel Myers, president of weather forecasting site AccuWeather, said in a statement that the actual death toll from the heatwave may be well higher as heat-related deaths are difficult to pinpoint, particularly those complicated by deteriorating health issues.

“The elderly and those with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma and heart failure, are likely to face declining health due to exacerbation of their conditions due to weather,” he said.

“Heat exhaustion and stroke, dehydration, migraines, loss of sleep and mood alteration can all occur due to dangerous heat.”

In Australia, where summer temperatures can soar to as high as 45 deg C, the intense heat has killed more people than any other natural hazards.

The United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said that the elderly are more prone to heat stress than young people because they do not adjust as well to sudden changes in temperature.

The elderly are more likely to suffer from chronic medical conditions that alter the normal body response to heat, or are more likely to take prescription medicine that may inhibit perspiration.

AccuWeather noted that the current heatwave blanketing Japan has led to temperatures “well above” the normal high temperatures in July, which typically average 29 deg C in Tokyo.

Even so, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told a news conference on Monday that she was not taking any chances when the Tokyo Olympics kick off in two years.

Describing the recent experience as akin to “living in a sauna every day”, she vowed to ensure adequate measures will be taken to protect both athletes and spectators.

These include mobile misting stations and asphalt-insulating technology that is said to lower temperatures by as many as 8 deg C.

Beyond that, a host of events will begin earlier in the so-called “early-bird Olympics”, with the men’s 50km race walk to kick off at 6am instead of the originally-scheduled 7.30am.

“We will continue our efforts to push for new technology for all athletes, spectators and inbound visitors, so that our cumulative efforts will make it more comfortable for everyone,” she said.</s>Less than two weeks after torrential rains wreaked destruction across Japan, the country is facing yet another weather-related crisis: a record-breaking heat wave that forecasters say could last until early August.

More than 30,000 people have been admitted to the hospital for heatstroke, and at least 77 deaths have been registered in the past two weeks, including a 6-year-old boy in Aichi prefecture who died July 17 after a school excursion, Kyodo News reported. Government agencies have warned that the country's 35 million senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to the heat; at least 80 percent of the deaths have been among those age 65 and above, a researcher told Reuters.

“This heat is a threat to life,” a spokesman for Japan's Meteorological Agency said in a news conference Monday. “We recognize it as a natural disaster.”

A spokesman for the agency told the BBC that many areas of the country have experienced “unprecedented levels of heat.” In the city of Kumagaya, 40 miles from Tokyo, temperatures rose to 106 degrees Fahrenheit (about 41 degrees Celsius) on Monday — the highest recorded in Japan. In Tokyo, home to more than 9 million people, temperatures topping 104 degrees were reported for the first time.

In the past week, schools across Japan have canceled outdoor and sporting events, CNN reported, including parts of the famous Gion Matsuri festival that runs in Kyoto each July.

Air conditioning is relatively rare in Japan, where years of government-led environmental campaigns have encouraged residents and organizations to reduce their reliance on cooling technology. According to CNN, a 2017 government survey found fewer than 45 percent of state-run elementary and middle schools had air conditioning and most apartment buildings did not have centralized climate-control systems.

To cool off, many people in Tokyo have started bringing small fans with them as they walk through the streets. Other heat-combating devices were put on display on Thursday at a trade fair in the city, including industrial-strength mist sprayers and a jacket with built-in fans.

Japan's heat wave has also renewed concerns about the country's ability to host the next Summer Olympics, which are scheduled for July and August 2020. Earlier this month, a representative of the International Olympic Committee said steps were being taken to minimize the impact of Japan's summer heat on the Games, the Wall Street Journal reported. Announcements have already been made that some outdoor events, such as the marathon, will be held at earlier hours than usual to avoid the heat.</s>TOKYO - Searing hot temperatures are forecast for wide swaths of Japan and South Korea in a long-running heat wave that's killed at least two dozen people.

The mercury is expected to reach 39 degrees Celsius on Monday in the city of Nagoya in central Japan and reach 37 in Tokyo.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency says the country's highest-ever morning low was recorded in the city of Gangneung, where the temperature was 31 at 6:45 a.m. The morning low in Seoul was 29.

Hundreds of people have been rushed to Japanese hospitals with heat stroke symptoms in the more than week-long heat wave. Deaths have been reported almost every day.

Authorities in Japan warned people to stay inside and use air conditioning.</s>
• 77 people have died and 30,000 have been sent to hospitals across Japan as a heatwave sweeps the country.
• Temperatures reached 41.1 degrees Celsius (105.8 Farenheit) on Monday in Kumagaya, an all-time record in Japan.
• Japan’s Meteorological Agency has warned temperatures are a “threat to life.”
• The heat wave has persisted following torrential rains which triggered landslides and heavy flooding in western Japan this month.

77 people have died and tens of thousands more have been sent to hospitals across Japan as a heatwave continues to sweep the country.

Temperatures reached a record high of 41.1 degrees Celsius (105.8 Farenheit) on Monday in Kumagaya, a city northwest of Tokyo in the Saitama prefecture, according to Kyodo News. Since July 9, over 30,000 people have been checked at Japanese hospitals and many of the fatalities were reportedly elderly citizens.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency said at a news conference Monday that the scorching temperatures were a “threat to life.”

“We recognize it as a natural disaster,” a spokesperson said.

Extreme heat is expected to continue for two more weeks, with forecasted weather set to exceed 35 degrees Celsius (95 Farenheit) on Tuesday in several prefectures, including Tokyo and Saitama. The agency issued a warning asking the public to stay hydrated and take preventive measures against heatstroke.

The heat wave has persisted following torrential rains which triggered landslides and heavy flooding in western Japan.

Over 200 people were killed, Japan’s highest death toll caused by rainfall in decades.</s>A deadly heat wave blistering across Japan has claimed more than 40 lives this month, with little relief in sight as record temperatures are expected to persist until later this week.

The country logged its highest-ever temperature at 106 degrees Fahrenheit (41.1°C) in Kumagaya, near Tokyo on Monday afternoon, according to Japan’s Kyodo news agency.

Eleven people, mostly senior citizens, died of suspected heatstroke on Saturday alone, the Japan Times reports. The searing heat has also seen a surge in distress calls, with an estimated 10,000 people hospitalized for heat-related conditions since the heat wave began on July 9.

Temperatures reached 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.7°C) in central Japan’s Tajimi city, Gifu Prefecture earlier this week, the highest in the country for five years. While in Kyoto, temperatures peaked at 103°F (39.8°C) after seven consecutive days of being above 100°F — a first since records began.

The country’s meteorological agency on Sunday issued active heat warnings in 39 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, and has broadcast calls for residents in affected areas to drink water and use air conditioners, Japan’s Yomiuri Shobun reports.

On Saturday, the Tokyo fire department dispatched more than 3,000 ambulances on Saturday, the most active day in the department’s history.

The heat has also added complications to rescue and rehabilitation efforts in western Japan, which is still reeling from widespread flooding and landslides that claimed more than 200 lives this month. An estimated 4,500 people displaced from their homes are still living in emergency shelters, according to ABC.</s>Japan recorded its highest temperature ever Monday as a deadly heat wave continued to grip a wide swath of the country and nearby South and North Korea.The mercury hit 41.1 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit) in Kumagaya, a city in Saitama prefecture about 65 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. That broke the previous record of 41.0 C in Ekawasaki on the island of Shikoku on Aug. 12, 2013.Two lingering high pressure systems have trapped warm and humid air above the region, bringing record-high temperatures for nearly two weeks. More than 40 people have died in Japan and about 10 in South Korea."It is so hot these days that I cannot figure out whether I am in (South Korea) or in Southeast Asia," said Kim Sung-hee, a student in downtown Seoul, where the temperature rose to 35.7 C (96 F).Ten people have died in South Korea of heatstroke and other heat-related causes this summer, seven of them last week, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. About 1,040 people have fallen ill because of hot weather from May 20 to July 21, an increase of 61 percent over the same period last year, it said.South Korea's highest-ever morning low was recorded in the city of Gangneung, where the temperature was 31 C (88 F) at 6:45 a.m. The morning low in Seoul was 29.2 C, a record for the country's capital, according to South Korea's weather agency.The mercury hit 39.9 C (103.8 F) in the southeastern town of Hayang, the highest temperature in the country so far this year.In North Korea, residents fanned themselves on crowded trolleys or protected themselves from the sun with brightly colored parasols as temperatures in Pyongyang, the capital, reached 34 C. Weather reports said even higher temperatures were recorded on the country's eastern coast.Thousands of people in Japan have been rushed to hospitals with heat stroke symptoms during the heat wave. Kyodo News agency has tallied more than 40 deaths. Many of the victims have been elderly people who were not using air conditioning.On Monday, nine people died from heat-related causes across Japan, Kyodo said. NHK national television tallied seven deaths.The temperature reached 39 C (102 F) on Monday in central Tokyo, the highest temperature this year. The worst of the heat wave is expected to be over this week.Tourists in Tokyo's historic Asakusa district struggled with the heat. Cosett Romero from Mexico said she and her family were getting headaches."It's difficult to us because we don't have this heat in Mexico," she said.Authorities warned people to stay inside and use air conditioning."The weather recently in Tokyo and across Japan is like being in a sauna," Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said at a news conference that highlighted the 2020 Summer Olympics, which open in Tokyo two years from Tuesday.She said that the city has been working to address heat concerns for both fans and athletes.The marathon and some other outdoor Olympic events will start early in the morning. Other steps include developing road pavements that emit less surface heat, setting up mist sprays and planting tall roadside trees.Koike also cited traditional ways of cooling in Japan, such as hanging straw screens and spraying water on road surfaces."But our traditional wisdom is not enough to beat the heat like this," she acknowledged, "so we will be using cutting-edge technology."</s>Japanese officials classified the country's historic heat wave as a natural disaster, warning citizens Tuesday to stay inside and avoid life-threatening temperatures of 104 degrees in some areas.

At least 65 people have died in the blistering heat since early July, but the actual figure is thought to be much higher.

“AccuWeather estimates the death toll from the Japan heat wave is likely already in the hundreds despite the official toll, and we predict the number will climb into the thousands before the heat wave ends,” said Joel Myers, the company's president and founder.

More than 22,000 people have been taken to hospitals with heat-stroke symptoms, Japanese officials said. In the city of Kumagaya, temperatures soared to 106 degrees on Monday, the highest temperature ever reported in the country and nearly 12 degrees hotter than average July temperatures. In Tokyo, the heat reached 104 degrees.

Temperatures dipped Tuesday in Tokyo, peaking at 91 degrees in the afternoon.

"We are observing unprecedented levels of heat in some areas," weather agency spokesman Motoaki Takekawa said, according to the BBC.

Officials are especially concerned about children because less than half of Japan's public schools have air conditioning. Summer break from school may be extended to keep children from overheated conditions, Yoshihide Suga, a government spokesman, said in a news conference Tuesday.

"As a record heat wave continues to blanket the country, urgent measures are required to protect the lives of schoolchildren," he said.

Organizers had to cancel Kyoto's Hanagasa Junku parade Tuesday, famous for its large, floral floats. More than 300 children and elderly people had been expected. The parade is part of the larger Gion Festival, which has already seen an estimated 55,000 fewer attendees compared with the year before, Japan Forward reported.

The Japan Meteorological Agency predicts temperatures will continue to be 95 degrees and higher into August. It advised people to drink plenty of water, avoid direct sunlight and use air conditioning.

Heat can lead to spikes in conditions such as asthma and heart failure, Myers said. He added that injuries and deaths in car accidents also increase as people face loss of concentration and lack of sleep.

Nearly half of those admitted to hospitals with heat stroke are elderly. Older populations are more vulnerable to dehydration and heat exhaustion, according to AccuWeather.</s>(Yoshiaki Sakamoto/Kyodo News via AP). In this July 18, 2018, photo, people watch the thermometer which reads 41.2 degree Celsius (106.16 degree Fahrenheit) near Tajimi station, Gifu prefecture, central Japan. Searing hot temperatures are forecast fo...

(Jun Hirata/Kyodo News via AP). In this July 20, 2018, photo, people make their way in scorching heat near Tokyo station in Tokyo. Searing hot temperatures are forecast for wide swaths of Japan and South Korea in a long-running heat wave. The mercury...

TOKYO (AP) - Japan recorded its highest temperature ever Monday as a deadly heat wave continued to grip a wide swath of the country and nearby South and North Korea.

The mercury hit 41.1 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit) in Kumagaya, a city in Saitama prefecture that is about 65 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. That broke the previous record of 41.0 C in Ekawasaki on the island of Shikoku on Aug. 12, 2013.

Two lingering high pressure systems have trapped warm and humid air above the region, bringing record-high temperatures for nearly two weeks. More than 40 people have died in Japan and about 10 in South Korea.

"It is so hot these days that I cannot figure out whether I am in (South Korea) or in Southeast Asia," said Kim Sung-hee, a student in downtown Seoul, where the temperature rose to 35.7 C (96 F).

Ten people have died in South Korea of heatstroke and other heat-related causes this summer, seven of them last week, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. About 1,040 people have fallen ill because of hot weather from May 20 to July 21, an increase of 61 percent over the same period last year, it said.

South Korea's highest-ever morning low was recorded in the city of Gangneung, where the temperature was 31 C (88 F) at 6:45 a.m. The morning low in Seoul was 29.2 C, a record for the country's capital, according to South Korea's weather agency.

The mercury hit 39.9 C (103.8 F) in the southeastern town of Hayang, the highest temperature in the country so far this year.

In North Korea, residents fanned themselves on crowded trolleys or protected themselves from the sun with brightly colored parasols as temperatures in Pyongyang, the capital, reached 34 C. Weather reports said even higher temperatures were recorded on the country's eastern coast.

Thousands of people in Japan have been rushed to hospitals with heat stroke symptoms during the heat wave. Kyodo News agency has tallied more than 40 deaths. Many of the victims have been elderly people who were not using air conditioning.

The temperature reached 39 C (102 F) Monday in central Tokyo, the highest temperature this year. The worst of the heat wave is expected to be over this week.

Tourists in Tokyo's historic Asakusa district struggled with the heat. Cosett Romero from Mexico said she and her family were getting headaches.

"It's difficult to us because we don't have this heat in Mexico," she said.

Authorities warned people to stay inside and use air conditioning.

"The weather recently in Japan is like being in a sauna," Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said at a news conference that highlighted the 2020 Summer Olympics, which open in Tokyo two years from Tuesday.

She said that the city has been working to address heat concerns for both fans and athletes.

The marathon and some other outdoor Olympic events will start early in the morning. Other steps include developing road pavements that emit less surface heat, setting up mist sprays and planting tall roadside trees.

Koike also cited traditional ways of cooling in Japan, such as hanging straw screens and spraying water on road surfaces.

"But our traditional wisdom is not enough to beat the heat like this," she acknowledged, "so we will be using cutting-edge technology."

Kim reported from Seoul, South Korea. Associated Press writer Eric Talmadge in Pyongyang, North Korea, and videojournalists Nicola Shannon in Tokyo and Yong-ho Kim in Seoul contributed to this report.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>TOKYO — Japan recorded its highest temperature ever Monday as a deadly heat wave continued to grip a wide swath of the country and nearby South and North Korea.

The mercury hit 106 degrees in Kumagaya, a city in Saitama prefecture about 40 miles northwest of Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Two lingering high-pressure systems have trapped warm and humid air above the region, bringing record high temperatures for nearly two weeks. More than 40 people have died in Japan and about 10 in South Korea.

“It is so hot these days that I cannot figure out whether I am in (South Korea) or in Southeast Asia,” said Kim Sung-hee, a student in downtown Seoul, where the temperature rose to 96.

Ten people have died in South Korea of heatstroke and other heat-related causes this summer, seven of them last week, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. About 1,040 people have fallen ill because of hot weather from May 20 to July 21, an increase of 61 percent over the same period last year, it said.

South Korea’s highest-ever morning low was recorded in the city of Gangneung, where the temperature was 88 at 6:45 a.m. The morning low in Seoul was 84.6, a record for the country’s capital, according to South Korea’s weather agency.

The mercury hit 103.8 in the southeastern town of Hayang, the highest temperature in the country so far this year.

In North Korea, residents fanned themselves on crowded trolleys or protected themselves from the sun with parasols as temperatures in Pyongyang, the capital, reached 93.2. Weather reports said higher temperatures were recorded on the country’s east coast.

Thousands of people in Japan have been rushed to hospitals with heatstroke symptoms during the heat wave. Kyodo News agency has tallied more than 40 deaths. Many of the victims have been elderly people who were not using air conditioning. On Monday, nine people died from heat-related causes across Japan, Kyodo said.

The temperature reached 102 on Monday in central Tokyo, the highest temperature this year. The worst of the heat wave is expected to be over this week.

Tourists in Tokyo’s historic Asakusa district struggled with the heat. Cosett Romero from Mexico said she and her family were getting headaches. “It’s difficult to us because we don’t have this heat in Mexico,” she said.

Authorities warned people to stay inside and use air conditioning.

“The weather recently in Tokyo and across Japan is like being in a sauna,” Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said at a news conference.

Mari Yamaguchi and Hyung-Jin Kim are Associated Press writers.</s>Japanese officials on Monday warned people to be extremely careful to avoid heatstroke in areas where temperatures are 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) and above. The country's disaster management agency has encouraged people to use air conditioning, drink enough water and take regular rest breaks at work.

Japan has been hit with intense heat for the last two weeks. Kumagaya, a city north of Tokyo, hit 41.1C on Monday, setting a new national temperature record. Ome, a Tokyo suburb, recorded 40.3C — the first time temperatures over 40 have been recorded in the capital's metropolitan area. Kyoto's annual Gion Matsuri parade was canceled on Sunday following seven straight days above 38 degrees.

Officials last week said at least 12 people had died, including a young schoolboy who collapsed during a school field trip. More than 12,000 others were hospitalized during the first two weeks of July. The death toll may have at least doubled since then: 11 people were reported to have died on Saturday alone across Japan. The figure is expected to be updated during the week.

"People should be all the more careful as many people must be exhausted after days of cruelly hot weather," meteorologist Minako Sakurai told France's AFP news agency.

This year's record temperatures have renewed concerns about the Summer Olympics that will be held in Tokyo in two years. The city's governor on Monday compared the current heat wave with "living in a sauna." Yuriko Koike vowed to take countermeasures against the heat to ensure a successful event in 2020.

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The death toll from an intense heat wave in Japan rises to 77.