Heatstroke sufferers triple in Japan in June

People walk under the blazing sun in Taito Ward, Tokyo, on June 30. | PHOTO: The Yomiuri Shimbun

TOKYO — The number of people taken to hospital by ambulance due to heatstroke totaled 15,969 in Japan in June, more than threefold from 4,945 a year before, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Wednesday.

The total was highest for June since the survey began in 2010 as many areas of the country saw the mercury rise to 35 C or higher on multiple days late in the month.

The daily count of heatstroke sufferers topped 1,000 every day from June 25 to 30, when the temperature was very high across the country. The total number over the six days exceeded 10,000.

By age group, people aged 65 or over numbered 8,758 in June, representing 54.8% of all people taken to hospital due to heatstroke in the month.

Of the total, the largest number, or 6,259 people, were taken to hospital from home, while 1,184 were from educational facilities including elementary to high schools.

By prefecture, Tokyo recorded the largest number of heatstroke sufferers at 1,827, followed by 1,381 in Saitama and 1,156 in Aichi.

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