Updated on
Summary
Japan's record heat wave kills hundreds of elderly nationwide, many who live alone and refuse to use air-conditioning. On Friday, public broadcaster NHK reported the nationwide total of deaths from the heat to have reached 305. In Tokyo alone 118 people have died of heat exhaustion in the period between July 17th and August 19th according to the Tokyo Medical Examiner's Office who collect data from hospitals around the capital. From this number, 112 were people above the age of sixty, 81 died alone and 114 succumbed in their homes. This is unlike many elderly Japanese who refuse to own or use air conditioning, believing they are more likely to catch a cold than be hit by a heatstroke. According to Kyodo news agency quoting the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, a total of over 31,000 people were hospitalised since May 31 and treated for heat stroke.
