© AP/Koji SasaharaVisitors walk under a water mist to cool themselves in the scorching heat at a zoo in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Fifty-seven people died due to heat-related medical issues in Japan over the week starting July 29, the government said Tuesday, with the number of those taken to hospitals more than tripling from the previous week's 5,664 to 18,347.
The weekly figure of those sent to hospitals was the second highest since tallies began in 2008, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Of the 18,347 people, 729 had severe symptoms requiring more than three weeks of treatment as an inpatient, while 6,548 had less serious issues needing shorter stays. Those aged 65 and older accounted for 54.3 percent of the total.
Comment: Other scientists have come to a similar conclusion, and there appear to be a myriad of factors associated with and amplifying the shift to a much cooler climate: