Many Japanese people were hospitalized due to extreme heat.

Hundreds of people have been hospitalized due to the severe heatwave affecting Japan, which authorities have declared a 'disaster'. According to reports released on Thursday, 453 people in Tokyo alone received hospital treatment for heat-related illnesses on Wednesday.

According to the Tokyo Fire Department, this is the highest number recorded since they began keeping records in 2010. Officials further state that the number of emergency calls has also reached its highest level since 1963.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported on Wednesday that at least 14 people across Japan have died due to the severe heat over the past week. Furthermore, the reports indicate that approximately 11,000 people nationwide have received emergency medical treatment. In Tokyo prefecture, with a population of about 14 million, one person has died, four others are in critical condition, and 18 are in serious condition. Additionally, 116 people were hospitalized from the Aichi region, which includes Nagoya city, on Wednesday alone.

Heatstroke warnings have been issued for many parts of the country, affecting a large portion of Japan's total population of approximately 125 million. By Thursday afternoon, temperatures in six locations reached 40 degrees Celsius (40C) or higher, while in three other locations, it rose to 39.9C. The highest temperature recorded was 41.1C in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka region, followed by 40.8C in Toyota city in the neighboring Aichi region, and 40.7C in Kuwana, Mie.

Japan's highest recorded temperature to date was 41.8C in Isesaki, north of Tokyo. Starting this year, authorities in the country have introduced a new term, "kokushobi" (cruelly hot day), to refer to days with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Scientists point out that the frequency and intensity of such extreme heat conditions are increasing due to climate change caused by human activities. Even foreign tourists visiting Japan say they constantly have to seek air-conditioned places and that the heat is extremely severe.