Japan issues multiple heat alerts amid soaring temperatures
In June alone, record temperatures were logged in 14 weather stations across the country. PHOTO: AFP
TOKYO – Japan issued multiple heat alerts across the country as temperatures soared, touching 36 deg C in Tokyo prefecture on June 18.
Fifty-seven people were transported to the hospital in Tokyo on June 18 for heat-related illnesses NHK reported, citing the fire department. In June alone, record temperatures were logged in 14 weather stations across the country, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The alerts come after record-breaking heat last summer resulted in the government passing tougher rules that require employers take adequate protection from extreme temperatures. In 2024 there were 30 workplace deaths and roughly 1,200 injuries associated with high temperatures, according to the health ministry.
Heatstroke is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by dangerously high body temperature that can result in severe organ damage if not treated quickly.
There were almost half a million heat-related deaths annually between 2000 and 2019, according to a report in 2024 by the World Health Organisation.
Along with public health impacts, higher temperatures can impact worker productivity and there's growing concern about the economic toll that heat waves have on economies.
Global average temperatures exceeded 1.5 deg C above pre-industrial levels for the first time in 2024 and new highs are forecast to be recorded over the next five years, according the World Meteorological Organisation. Bloomberg
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Erick becomes a hurricane off Mexico's Pacific Coast, keeps intensifying
A red flag flutters in the wind, warning beachgoers of dangerous conditions as Tropical Storm Erick strengthens off Mexico's Pacific Coast, in San Benito, Chiapas state, Mexico, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Damian Sanchez Waves crash onto the shore as Tropical Storm Erick strengthens off Mexico's Pacific Coast, in San Benito, Chiapas state, Mexico, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Damian Sanchez Waves crash onto the shore as Tropical Storm Erick strengthens off Mexico's Pacific Coast, in San Benito, Chiapas state, Mexico, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Damian Sanchez A man rests in a chair as waves crash onto the shore while Tropical Storm Erick strengthens off Mexico's Pacific Coast, in San Benito, Chiapas state, Mexico, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Damian Sanchez A red flag flutters in the wind, warning beachgoers of dangerous conditions as Tropical Storm Erick strengthens off Mexico's Pacific Coast, in San Benito, Chiapas state, Mexico, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Damian Sanchez MEXICO CITY - Erick strengthened into a category 1 hurricane off Mexico's Pacific Coast and may intensify into a major hurricane prior to its landfall, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Wednesday. Erick is expected to be the first hurricane to make landfall in Mexico this season, and would bring "life-threatening flash floods to portions of southern Mexico later tonight and Thursday", the NHC said in a report. "Rapid strengthening is expected today, and Erick may reach major hurricane strength when it approaches the coast of southern Mexico Thursday," the center warned. With maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h), Erick is moving northwest at near 7 mph (11 km/h) and is expected to get closer to the country's southern coast during the night. Mexico's national water commission Conagua said in a statement that the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero are under alert ahead of the hurricane's arrival as rainfall could lead to landslides and flooding. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Paper
4 hours ago
- New Paper
Like living with a 'time bomb': Desperate parents report own son for vaping
A middle-aged couple has reported their 18-year-old son to the authorities twice, desperate to curb what they describe as his worsening addiction to e-cigarettes. They say the teenager's behaviour changed drastically after he started vaping last year due to bad influences. After their son began vaping, she noticed worrying signs: "He was walking unsteadily, falling over, his hands started to shake, and his face turned dark. His memory became poor, and he was always irritable." Once a polite, well-behaved boy, he now slammed doors during arguments and ignored their pleas to stop. His mother, who spoke to Shin Min Daily News, said he told her he was under pressure and used vapes to relax. "But vaping is harmful to the body. How can we just watch him destroy himself? Every time we try to talk to him about it, we end up in a fight." The couple eventually called the authorities. Officers confiscated the e-cigarettes and the family paid two fines totalling $600. But he soon resumed the habit, ordering new ones through Telegram. His father said the products were delivered straight to their HDB block within a day. The mother also took him for counselling and sought advice from a drug rehabilitation centre. But nothing worked. "I'm willing to do anything to help my son. I've done everything I can think of, but it's no use. I hope someone out there can help us," she said. She broke down in tears during the interview. "Over the past year, our family has been living in fear. Our son is like a time bomb. We haven't had a good night's sleep." Family members advised her to take a tougher stance or even walk away, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. His father said the boy often grew angry and stormed out of the house when confronted. "He doesn't come home until late. If he doesn't want to change, there's only so much we can do." What frustrates the couple most is how easy it is for teenagers to buy e-cigarettes. "We see reports of raids, but online sellers are still thriving. These devices are everywhere," said the father. "Young people are still growing. Long-term vaping can seriously affect their health. Hopefully the authorities will crack down on these online groups." E-cigarettes are banned in Singapore. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS According to the Health Promotion Board, e-cigarettes contain harmful chemicals, including nicotine, that can damage the lungs, brain and heart. The public can get help through HPB's iQuit programme, which offers counselling, quit plans and motivational support. Parents are encouraged to show empathy rather than scold their children, and to seek help early. As for this family, they are still clinging to hope. "He is my son," said the mother. "If even his own mother gives up on him… I'm afraid he'll spiral even more."
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Thousands evacuated as severe flooding hits southern China
A man walking through a flooded street in Zhongshan, in China's southern Guangdong province on June 17. PHOTO: AFP – Nearly 70,000 people in southern China have been evacuated after heavy flooding caused by Typhoon Wutip, Chinese state media outlets reported on June 18. Vast areas of Zhaoqing city in Guangdong province were submerged, with flood waters inundating shopfronts and covering roads, footage from state broadcaster China Central Television showed. Rescuers pushed stranded cars out of the water and used dinghies to transport residents to safety. Other images showed rescuers wading through water while carrying stranded people on their backs. The flooding had affected 183,000 residents in Zhaoqing's Huaiji county, with the city mobilising more than 10,000 rescue personnel, state media outlet Xinhua reported. The flooding affected much of Guangdong province and the neighbouring Guangxi region. Footage from CCTV filmed on June 17 showed rescuers in Guangxi dragging a rubber boat crammed with people through knee-deep water as heavy rain continued to fall. Typhoon Wutip, China's first typhoon of 2025, made landfall on the island province of Hainan on June 13, before moving to Guangdong on June 14. It brought winds gusting up to 128kmh before weakening to a severe tropical storm during the weekend. Even as its severity subsided, the storm has continued to bring heavy rain to southern China and Zhejiang province in the east, where the authorities issued an emergency response notice for flooding risks. Rainfall in some areas had surpassed 100mm, according to the China Meteorological Administration. The authorities in Vietnam said on June 16 that seven people had died in the country after heavy rains and flooding caused by Wutip. China has endured spates of extreme weather events, from searing heat and drought to downpours and floods, for several summers running. The country is the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter but also a renewable energy powerhouse, seeking to cut carbon dioxide emissions to net-zero by 2060. Torrential rains in August 2024 – triggered by Typhoon Gaemi – which moved from the Philippines and Taiwan to make landfall in eastern China, killed at least 30 people and left dozens missing. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
