Heatstroke alerts issued for 35 prefs

The Yomiuri Shimbun
People walking near Shinjuku Station in Tokyo are seen holding portable fans to stay cool amid the stifling heat on Wednesday.

Heatstroke alerts were issued for 35 prefectures Wednesday amid soaring temperatures across Japan.

The mercury had climbed above 35 C at 200 observation points as of 4 p.m.

A temperature of 39.7 C was recorded in Sano, Tochigi Prefecture, 39.2 C in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, 39 C in Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture and 38.9 C in both Kuwana, Mie Prefecture and Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture.

The temperature in central Tokyo reached 36.1 C.

The agency and the Environment Ministry issued a heatstroke alert for 35 prefectures from the Kanto region westward and urged people to take extra care to avoid getting too hot.