Heatwave Takes a Heavy Toll in Japan
On the long weekend of July 17‑19, Japan sweltered under an extreme heatwave that claimed at least 14 lives and left thousands battling heat‑related ailments. The scorching spell has also intensified the struggle for residents recovering from last week’s deadly floods.
When the Sun Gets Too Hot
- Temperatures spiked over 39 °C (102 °F) in inland hotspots—most notably Gifu’s Ibigawa town, where it reached 39.3 °C, the highest in the country that week.
- Even Tokyo, usually a temperate bastion, saw a peak of 34 °C.
- Western Japan, still reeling from floods, hit 34.3 °C by midday, adding a nasty twist for volunteers clearing mud and debris.
Impact on the People
At least 14 people lost their lives over the weekend, including a 90‑year‑old woman who was found unconscious in a field. Hospitals ran full‑tilt treating heat‑stroke and dehydration cases.
General respondents frequently quoted the unnerving idea that the only defense is constant hydration:
“It’s really hot. All we can do is keep drinking water,” a man in Okayama told NHK.
Why This Heat Is So Bad
It’s not just the temperature on its own—high humidity made the air feel like a sauna, turning even moderate temperatures into dangerous “intense heat days.” According to the Japanese Meteorological Agency, such conditions have been recorded at 200 sites on a July Sunday this year, a rarity but not historical first.
Past Heat Blasts
- 2014: 213 locations reached 35 °C‑plus temperatures.
- Last year: 48 deaths from heat from May to September, with 31 of those dying in July.
Looking Forward
Two towering high‑pressure systems over Japan are keeping the heat on, and experts anticipate the blistering temperatures will linger for the rest of the week—if not longer.
