The number of heat stroke victims in Tokyo taken to hospitals by ambulance doubled in July from the same month last year, the Tokyo Fire Department said Tuesday.
A total of 182 people in Tokyo were taken to hospitals in July due to heat stroke, up from 91 last year, a department survey showed.
People aged between 30 and 50 who work outdoors were the most susceptible, it said.
With more high temperatures ahead, the department is warning people to avoid going out during the hottest part of the day and to drink plenty of water.
Although no fatalities have been reported so far, the department said there have been some life-threatening cases, including one in which a 32-year-old removal man was affected by the heat after struggling to meet a work deadline.
The daily maximum temperature in Tokyo averaged 31.6 degrees last month, up by 2.8 degrees from the historical average, the Meteorological Agency said. The maximum July temperature was 34.9 degrees recorded July 23.
The average temperature for the month was 27.7 degrees, 2.5 degrees higher than in an average year.
There were 24 days with temperatures of 30 degrees or over, compared with 14.1 in an average year. The number of nights in which the temperature did not fall below 25 degrees was 15, compared with 5.4 in an average year.
The central Tokyo area saw a number of rainy days during the first part of July, but clear and hot days continued since the end of the rainy season July 20.
The agency predicts hot weather will continue for at least another week. The temperature in Tokyo reached 34.5 degrees Tuesday.