JAPAN ON HEATSTROKE ALERT AS SUMMER HEAT INTENSIFIES

TOKYO, July 4 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Many parts of Japan, including Tokyo, experienced severe summer heat, with temperatures soaring above 35 degrees Celsius, prompting the first heatstroke alert of the year for the Tokyo area.

The high humidity further increases the risk of heat-related illnesses, necessitating caution among the public, warned the national weather agency Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

The JMA has issued heatstroke alerts for 15 prefectures, including the Tokyo region, urging people to take necessary precautions and avoid outdoor activities.

Thursday saw the influence of a high-pressure system, which brings intense summer heat, strengthening as the rainy season front weakened. This brought strong sunshine and extreme temperatures to many areas nationwide, described by local media as "disaster-level summer heat".

In central Tokyo, the daytime temperature quickly rose before noon, reaching a high of 35 degrees Celsius, marking the first heatwave day of the year, while prefectures of Shizuoka, Gunma, and Tochigi are expected to see temperatures as high as 38 degrees Celsius, according to the JMA.

Shizuoka recorded a temperature of 38.9 degrees Celsius, the highest in Japan this year and a record for the prefecture since 1940.

On Friday, the intense heat will continue from Kanto to Kyushu with sunny skies and high temperatures persisting, weather forecasts showed. Afternoon rain is expected in Tohoku, Hokuriku, and the Sea of Japan side of western Japan.

With more widespread clouds and rain expected on Saturday, due to the rainy season front, scorching heat will again sweep from Kanto to Kyushu's Pacific side on Sunday. 

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA