Japan issues heatstroke warning after 6 die in Tokyo, offers ‘cooling shelters’ as respite

Six people have died of heatstroke in Tokyo as Japan swelters under a rare rainy season heatwave, prompting authorities to issue a flurry of health warnings, and to set up new “cooling shelters” around the capital.

Authorities urged people to avoid physical activity as the environment ministry issued top “danger”-level alerts, while media said scores of people were hospitalised, with some dying from heatstroke symptoms over the last few days.

“It’s a life-threatening emergency,” said 60-year-old Hisako Ichiuji, who resorted on Tuesday to a “cooling shelter” at the capital’s Tokyo Tower, a popular tourist spot.

Over the weekend, the central Shizuoka region became the first in Japan to see the mercury reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) this year, far surpassing the 35-degree threshold classified by weather officials as “extremely hot”.

Typically, facilities such as community centres or libraries equipped with air conditioners, the shelters are part of a scheme adopted this year requiring local governments to provide people a respite from the heat after warnings go out.

“[In the past] the temperature wasn’t like this,” Ichiuji added. “I think it’s important to keep ourselves hydrated, and take shelter in a facility like this.”

Such severe heat in the middle of Japan’s rainy season is “rather rare”, caused in part by a strong South Pacific high-pressure system, a weather agency official said.

Temperatures also hit record highs near 40 degrees on Monday at observation posts in Tokyo and in the southern Wakayama region, according to local media.

The past few days have seen authorities issue heatstroke alerts in much of the country, urging residents to avoid exercising outside and to use air conditioning.

The capital logged three