Japan's Gifu Hits 40 C As Heat Wave Reaches Fourth Straight Day

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing Xinhua, Japanese weather officials said temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius in Mino, Gifu Prefecture, on Friday afternoon, marking the fourth consecutive day that Japan has recorded so-called "extreme heat days" and tying a historical record. Japan's Meteorological Agency this year defined temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and above as "extreme heat days." The first such day this year was recorded on July 21 in Gujo, Gifu Prefecture, while temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher were also observed in multiple locations on July 22 and 23. Japan has seen daytime highs above 35 degrees Celsius across the country in recent days, and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 10,857 people were taken to hospital for heatstroke emergencies in the week of July 13-19. Japanese media cited experts as saying a high-pressure system has created a "heat dome" over the country, trapping heat over the archipelago.