5,467 hospitalized for heatstroke

The number of people taken to hospitals by ambulance due to heatstroke in the week through Sunday more than doubled from the preceding week to 5,467, preliminary data showed Tuesday.
The figure, up from 2,622 in the week to July 15, hit the highest for a single week this summer, according to the data released by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Deaths caused by heatstroke increased to 13 from five in the preceding week.
Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture had the most victims, with ambulances called for 388 people each. They were followed by 382 in Aichi Prefecture and 372 in Osaka Prefecture.
People aged 65 or older accounted for 45.9 percent of the total.
Since the agency started this year's survey on May 28, 11,116 people were taken to hospitals as of Sunday. Twenty-three people have died.
The rise in heatstroke cases reflects the smothering heat wave, with temperatures of 35 degrees or higher observed in many places for the four days from July 16, agency officials said.
In Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture, the mercury shot up to 37.6 on July 16 and to 39.2 the following day, according to the Meteorological Agency.

Jiji