57 dead, 18,000 taken to hospitals in week in Japan heat wave
The weekly figure of those sent to hospitals was the second highest since tallies began in 2008, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, Kyodo News reports.
Of the 18,347 people, 729 had severe symptoms requiring more than three weeks of treatment as an inpatient, while 6,548 had less serious issues needing shorter stays. Those aged 65 and older accounted for 54.3 percent of the total.
Tokyo had most people taken to hospitals at 1,857, followed by 1,342 in Aichi and 1,307 in Saitama prefectures. Deaths were reported across 24 prefectures, seven in Hokkaido in northern Japan being the highest, followed by five each in Ibaraki and Saitama.
High pressure over the Japanese archipelago preserved extreme heat, said the agency, as it advised constant hydration and rests in cooler areas.