Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency says more than 100,000 people were taken to hospitals this season suffering from heatstroke. It is the first time the number has topped the 100,000 mark in Japan.

Preliminary data issued by the agency on Tuesday show that 100,143 people were transported to hospitals with heatstroke across Japan from May through September 28.

It is the first time the figure has exceeded 100,000 since 2015, when the survey period was expanded to include May. This year's number also topped the record 97,578 logged last year.

Of the total, 116 of the patients died this year, and 36,448 others developed symptoms that required hospitalization.

Seniors aged 65 or older accounted for 57,235, or more than half of the total.

By prefecture, 9,309 were in Tokyo, 7,175 in Osaka, and 6,630 in Aichi. The figure for the northern prefecture of Hokkaido was 2,718, up about 70 percent.