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. The death toll may have at least doubled since then: 11 people were reported to have died on Saturday alone across Japan. “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. 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. 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 country's disaster management agency has encouraged people to use air conditioning, drink enough water and take regular rest breaks at work. 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.
The death toll from an intense heat wave in Japan rises to 77.