Record people hospitalized over heatstroke in Japan

A total of 138 people have died and more than 70,000 people were sent to hospitals because of heatstroke in the past three months, said Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency on Tuesday.

According to the agency, 138 people have died as a result of heatstroke or heat-related illnesses between April 30 and Aug. 5.

In the same period, a total of 71,266 people have been sent to hospitals because of heat-related illness. The number is even higher than the previous yearly record, which was set in 2013 with 58,729 people sent to hospitals due to heatstroke throughout the year.

A protracted heatwave has been scorching wide swaths of Japan since July, leaving 124 people dead and 52,819 people hospitalized due to heat-related illness in the month, both the highest monthly records since 2008.

The heat wave also saw the mercury rise to 41.0 degrees Celsius in Gero City in central Japan's Gifu Prefecture Monday afternoon, which marked the joint second-highest temperature ever recorded in Japan.

The highest record of temperature was set on July 23 in Kumagaya City in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, where the mercury spiking to 41.1 degrees Celsius.

Weather officials have been warning people to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, particularly those containing electrolytes, or to consume some salt when drinking water.