The mercury hit 41.1 degrees Celsius in the Japanese central city of Hamamatsu on Monday, tying with the highest temperature recorded in 2018, as a heatwave gripping the country continued to claim lives.
The record was posted one day after the city saw the temperature soar to 40.9 degrees, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. It is the first time that the mercury exceeded 40 degrees for consecutive days, the agency said.
The temperature last hit 41.1 degrees Celsius in July 2018, in the city of Kumagaya, north of Tokyo, according to the German News Agency (dpa).
In the town of Yorii, near Kumagaya, a 94-year-old man died of apparent heatstroke on Monday, Kyodo News reported.
In Tokyo alone, a total of 53 people died of heatstroke this month, officials said, as the capital has been hit by extreme temperatures. Many of the victims have been elderly.
Authorities have urged the public to take precautionary measures, such as ensuring adequate hydration and avoiding unnecessary outings.
