20 dead and nearly 10,000 taken to hospitals as ongoing heat wave engulfs Japan

Twenty  people died and nearly 10,000 people were taken to hospitals for heat exhaustion or heatstroke during the week through last Sunday, as a heat wave continued to scorch wide areas of Japan.

Mercury reaches to the 40 degree Celsius  in central Japan. As intense heat is expected to continue, the Meteorological Agency has warned people to take precautions, such as drinking sufficient amounts of water.

As intense heat is expected to continue, the Meteorological Agency has warned people to take precautions, such as drinking sufficient amounts of water .

The heat has also continued to make it difficult for relief operations in regions ravaged by the recent flooding and landslides.