Japan Declares Heatwave a Disaster After 14 Deaths and Record Tokyo Hospitalizations
A severe heatwave in Japan has been declared a national disaster by authorities after it killed at least 14 people in the past week, sent more than 11,000 to emergency medical care nationwide and caused a record 453 people in Tokyo to be hospitalized for heat-related issues in a single day. [4]
Record Heatstroke Cases in Tokyo
More than 450 people received hospital treatment for heat-related issues in Tokyo on Wednesday, the highest number since records began in 2010, with emergency callouts at the highest level since at least 1963. [4] The Tokyo Fire Department stated that a total of 453 people had hospital treatment for heat-related issues on Wednesday. [4] Emergency callouts reached the highest level since at least 1963. [4] In Tokyo prefecture, home to around 14 million people, one person had died in the current heatwave with four others in a critical condition and 18 in a serious state. [4] The number of patients appeared to rise as temperatures climbed, with notable increases on Tuesday and Wednesday. [4]
National Disaster Declaration
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported at least 14 deaths across the country over the previous week and 11,000 people seeking emergency medical care, dubbing the heatwave a "disaster". [4] The agency has dubbed the heatwave a "disaster". [4] In Aichi prefecture, which includes Nagoya, 116 people were taken to hospital on Wednesday amid some of the most intense heat. [4] Heatstroke alerts have been issued for almost the entire country of 125 million people. [4] The disaster agency stated that temperatures have been rising since mid-July and severe heat is expected to continue nationwide. [4] It added that it is no exaggeration to call this extreme heat a "disaster" with many people being rushed to hospitals or even dying as a result of heatstroke. [4]
Extreme Temperatures Recorded
At least six places in Japan reached 40C or hotter by early afternoon Thursday, with Hamamatsu recording 41.1C, the highest temperature that day. [4] On Thursday at least six places experienced 40C temperatures or hotter by early afternoon, while the mercury rose to 39.9C in three other locations. [4] The hottest place was Hamamatsu in the central Shizuoka region at 41.1C. [4] It was followed by Toyota city in the neighbouring Aichi region at 40.8C and Kuwana in Mie at 40.7C. [4] Japan this year introduced a new term to describe heat above 40C called kokushobi, which translates to "cruelly hot day". [4] The new term was designed to draw greater public attention to heat-related warnings, although it does not trigger any official measures nationwide. [4] Japan’s highest recorded temperature was registered on Aug 5, 2025, at 41.8C in Isesaki, north of Tokyo. [4]
Public and Tourist Experiences
Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme heat events to human-induced climate change; Japan experienced its hottest summer on record last year. [4] Nick Estes, 35, an American tourist visiting the Asakusa area of Tokyo with his family, said Thursday the weather was “extremely hot”. [4] Estes added that the group had been planning trips around trying to make sure they could spend time in the metro to cool off, finding little shops to pop into to maybe buy a little souvenir that has air conditioning, doing everything they can to stay cool. [4] Estes noted that especially with younger kids it has been absolutely brutal and that it actually feels even hotter this year than it did a year ago. [4] Yesenia Gueta, 47, visiting from Los Angeles, said you leave the hotel at 8.30 and it feels as if it was noontime and as the day progresses it just gets hotter and hotter and hotter. [4] Gueta added that now she understands why Japanese clothing is loose and why they wear the umbrellas all the time, calling it extreme and agreeing with the kokushobi term. [4] Japanese university student Nukochama, 24, said since it is like this in mid-July she wonders what is going to happen in August and that she is worried, while carrying a big fan that is fully charged so she can turn it on anytime. [4] A fire brigade spokesman urged people to stay hydrated and use air conditioners. [4]
Ongoing Severe Weather Alerts in the US
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 1200 AM EDT Friday for portions of northeast North Carolina and southeast Virginia. [1] The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Franklin County in central North Carolina, Southeastern Granville County in central North Carolina and Wake County in central North Carolina until 1015 AM EDT. [2] At 718 AM EDT Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area with up to 2 inches of rain having fallen and additional rainfall amounts up to 2 inches possible. [2] The National Weather Service in Raleigh has also issued a Flash Flood Warning for Alamance County in central North Carolina, Northern Chatham County in central North Carolina, Durham County in central North Carolina, Southern Granville County in central North Carolina and Orange County in central North Carolina until 1100 AM EDT. [5] At 653 AM EDT Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated showers and thunderstorms producing heavy rain will continue to move across the warned area. [5]
Fire Weather Warnings on US West Coast
A Red Flag Warning covers Fire Weather Zone 649 North and Central Coastal Strip, Fire Weather Zone 650 North Coastal Lowlands, Fire Weather Zone 651 Central Coastal Lowlands, Fire Weather Zone 652 West Portion of the Olympic Mountains, Fire Weather Zone 655 Black Hills and Southwest Interior Lowlands, Fire Weather Zone 659 West Slopes of the Central Cascades Generally above 1500 Feet and Fire Weather Zone 661 East Portion of the Olympic Mountains. [3] Winds are west 5 to 10 mph and relative humidity is as low as indicated in the warning details. [3]
What to watch next: Severe heat is expected to continue nationwide in Japan while a Flood Watch remains in effect until 1200 AM EDT Friday for portions of northeast North Carolina and southeast Virginia.
