The temperature soared to 40.7 degrees in Kochi Prefecture and on Saturday as a heat wave continued to cover most of Japan. It was the first time since 2007 that temperatures have topped 40 degrees in Japan.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, 655 monitoring points across the country recorded temperatures higher than 30 degrees by noon Saturday, and of those, the mercury topped 35 degrees at 295 locations, TV Asahi reported. In central Tokyo, the temperature was 37.4 degrees at 2 p.m., making Saturday the hottest day of the summer so far.

Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Gunma, Saitama and Miyazaki prefectures all recorded temperatures above 36 degrees, the agency said. Kyoto recorded 37.2, Nagoya 36.6 and Osaka 36.

Only parts of Hokkaido were spared the heat wave on Saturday, with Kushiro experiencing a pleasant 25 degrees.

Meanwhile, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency and health authorities urged people, especially the elderly to take precautions against heatstroke, by drinking a lot of water and using the air conditioning.

© Japan Today