Heat wave claims more lives in Japan

In the central Japan city of Toyama, 11-month-old Kokomi Nobata was confirmed dead in hospital after her mother left her strapped in a child seat in the back of her vehicle for about four hours, Kyodo News reports.

Police arrested the 25-year-old mother who told police officers she had used a proxy driving service to return home after drinking at a restaurant early Friday.

The police believe the mother came home around 5:20 a.m. Friday and did not realize she had left her daughter in the car until around 9:30 a.m. The temperature had risen close to 32 C in Toyama by around that time, according to a local weather observatory.

In Ageo, north of Tokyo, a man in his 60s was found collapsed in front of his house Friday afternoon, local officials said Saturday. He is believed to have died due to the heat, they said.

In Miyagi Prefecture early Saturday, a woman in her 80s was taken to hospital, where she was confirmed dead, after a family member made an emergency call, according to responders. The hospital concluded her death was heat-related, they said.

The central government has said nearly a dozen people died last week due to heat-related medical issues as temperatures rose sharply following the end of the rainy season in most areas.