TOKYO, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Wide swathes of Japan continued to be scorched by high temperatures on Monday, causing the weather agency here to issue heatstroke warnings as it described some conditions as "life threatening."

The protracted heatwave in Japan saw the mercury rise to 41.0 degrees Celsius in the afternoon in Gero City in central Japan's Gifu Prefecture.

This marked the joint second-highest temperature ever recorded in Japan, with the highest being set on July 23 in Kumagaya City in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, where the mercury spiking to 41.1 degrees Celsius.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the daytime highs on Sunday logged above 35 degrees Celsius at 256 of the weather agency's nationwide observation points.

The figure marks the most points registering above the 35-degree point this summer, the JMA said.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency, meanwhile, said that according to its preliminary data, 125 people have died as a result of heatstroke or heat-related illnesses between April 30 and July 29.

The agency also said that in the same period, more than 57,000 people have been hospitalized because of heat-related illness.

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

Following the recent torrential rain in western Japan, weather officials have also advised those still seeking refuge in temporary shelters to be particularly careful of heatstroke and heat-related illnesses as they remain particularly at risk.