More Than 30 Dead In Japan From Heatwave, With Olympics Only Two Years Away (July-Aug 2020)

Ten more people died Thursday from a heat wave that continued to grip Japan, raising the death toll to more than 30 since July 9, with the public warned to brace for more scorching weather over coming days.

The extreme heat -- which rose to as high as 40.7 C in central Japan on Wednesday -- has caused more than 10,000 people to be sent to hospitals, according to a Kyodo News tally. The 10 fatalities were from seven prefectures.

On Thursday, the mercury continued to hover well over 35 C in many areas of Japan, with Kyoto registering 39.8 C.

EDIT

http://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/07/19/18/more-than-30-dead-in-japan-heat-wave

More than a dozen people have died as temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time since 2013, and the thermometer hit 43 Celsius during an Olympic Stadium media tour on Wednesday.

The opening ceremony will be held at the venue on July 24, 2020, a time of year when Tokyo records average temperatures of around 25 Celsius, which combined with severe humidity will create tough conditions for athletes and spectators alike.

Earlier this year, experts warned of the risks of heatstroke at the Games, which runs until Aug. 9, with conditions reaching levels at which sporting activities would normally be halted. The issue is one Tokyo 2020 organizers are taking seriously as they consider a raft of counter measures to battle the extreme heat.

These include increased shelter and cooling fans provided for spectators, and the installation of a ‘Wet Bulb Globe Temperature’ device designed to provide constant feedback to assess levels of heat stress at each venue.

EDIT

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2020-heatwave/faster-higher-hotter-tokyo-weather-prompts-2020-fears-idUSKBN1K80UG