Tokyo hits record high as heat wave continues in Japan

[senorpepr]

TOKYO (AFP) - The temperature in central Tokyo hit a record 39.5 degrees Celsius (103.1 Fahrenheit) as a heat wave continued to scorch many parts of Japan, the Meteorological Agency said.

The mercury reading for Tokyo's financial district as of 1:00 pm (0400 GMT) was the highest in the capital for any month since the agency began recording data in 1923 and surpassed the previous record of 39.1 Celcius reached on August 3, 1994, an agency official said.

"It is unlikely to cool off any time soon, although we're not sure whether it (highs) will continue to be above 39 degrees," the official said.

A short rainy season in many parts of the country and the hot and humid weather has claimed several lives and caused more than 300 people to collapse and require hospital treatment so far this month.

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