A deadly heat wave that has gripped Japan since early July has sent temperatures in one city soaring to the highest ever recorded in the country.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said Monday that temperatures in Kumagaya, located in Saitama prefecture just north of Tokyo, reached 41.1 degrees Celsius.
As many as 77 people are believed to have died from the blistering heat that has settled over Japan due to a lingering high pressure system, including 11 people who reportedly died on Saturday.Authorities are urging residents to stay indoors under air conditioning.
Nearby North and South Korea have also been wracked by the heat wave.In South Korea, 10 people have died this summer due to heat-related illnesses, The Associated Press reported — seven in the past week.
The heat wave has raised concerns about conditions for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Average August high temperatures in Tokyo have been higher than that of the three previous Summer Olympic host cities — London, Rio de Janeiro, and Beijing, according to the AP.
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