Japan heat wave kills 79 as Fukuoka hits 40.4C

The southwestern Japanese city of Fukuoka sweltered through its 10th consecutive day of extreme heat on Wednesday, with temperatures in Hakata Ward reaching 40.4 degrees Celsius (104.7 Fahrenheit) and national authorities reporting that at least 79 people have died from heatstroke across the country since the start of July. The mercury climbed to the record level as a high-pressure system continued to dominate weather patterns over the archipelago, while hot and moist air flowing from a nearby typhoon compounded the oppressive conditions in the Kyushu region, according to Kyodo News.

Meteorological officials have responded to the sustained extreme weather by categorizing days when temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius or higher as "kokushobi," or "cruelly hot days," reflecting the growing frequency of dangerous heat events across Japan. Average summer temperatures have continued their upward trajectory in recent years, prompting health warnings and emergency measures as communities struggle to adapt to the intensifying climate conditions.

National toll and recent floods

Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said on Tuesday that more than 41,000 people were hospitalized nationwide for heat-related illnesses during July alone, with the vast majority of victims belonging to vulnerable demographics. "Among those taken to hospitals, 24,769 were aged 65 or older, accounting for more than 60% of the total. Seventy-nine people were confirmed dead," Jiji Press reported, citing the agency's preliminary data.

The disproportionate impact on elderly residents underscores the lethal nature of the current heat wave, which has strained emergency medical services and prompted local governments to open cooling centers in major urban centers. The deadly heat follows a separate spell of severe weather earlier this month, when torrential rains and flash floods devastated eastern Japan and left at least 13 people dead in Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo.