Heat stroke sends 31,000 people to hospital in Japan
13:50, 17 August 2010
TOKYO. August 17. KAZINFORM More than 31,000 people rushed to hospital due to heat stroke between May 31 and Aug. 15 in Japan, the government said Tuesday. Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
The number of people who died of heat stroke shortly after being hospitalized reached 132, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency's preliminary report.
In July alone, 17,680 people were taken to hospital for heat stroke, of whom 94 died -- both record highs for the month since the agency started compiling relevant data in 2008, Kyodo News reported.
By age bracket, 47.7 percent were aged 65 or over.
Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Agency said intense heat waves continued to engulf a wide area of the Japanese archipelago on Tuesday under the influence of a high-pressure system in the Pacific Ocean. Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version.