Scorching heat continues to grip eastern and western Japan on Thursday, prompting authorities to issue heatstroke alerts.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says a high-pressure system is prevailing mainly over eastern and western Japan, and temperatures are likely to rise. Officials are urging people to stay on alert for heatstroke.
A daytime high of 39 degrees Celsius is forecast for Kyoto City and elsewhere, while 38 degrees is expected in cities including Nagoya and Gifu.
The temperature will likely reach 37 degrees in the cities of Kagoshima, Kochi, Osaka and Kofu, and 36 degrees in the cities of Oita and Wakayama. A daytime high of 35 degrees is forecast for the cities of Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kobe, Toyama and Yokohama.
Heatstroke alerts have been issued for 28 out of the 47 prefectures.
The prefectures under alert are Kanagawa, Nagano, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Ishikawa, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Wakayama, Okayama, Hiroshima, Shimane, Tottori, Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka, Oita, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto and Miyazaki.
Kagoshima Prefecture, excluding the Amami region, and Okinawa Prefecture’s Daitojima region as well as the prefecture’s main island are also under alert.
People are advised to use air conditioners without hesitation, avoid unnecessary outings and exercise, and take in fluids and salt frequently.
Special attention should be paid to elderly people and infants because they are at higher risk of developing heatstroke.