Weather officials are warning of heatstroke in Japan as sweltering heat continues to grip wide areas of the country.
The Meteorological Agency says daytime highs will reach 35 degrees Celsius across a wide area on Friday, with 38 degrees forecast for the Kanto,Tokai, Kansai and Kyushu regions.
On Thursday, temperatures of 35 degrees or higher were recorded at 184 observation points across Japan.
Mino City in Gifu Prefecture had the highest temperature of 38.4 degrees. In central Tokyo, the mercury reached 35 degrees, the highest temperature for the capital this year.
Officials say the extreme heat will likely continue for about one week in many areas. They are calling on people to take precautions against heatstroke, including staying hydrated and avoiding direct sunlight.
The officials also say the rising temperatures may create unstable atmospheric conditions over wide areas, causing rain clouds to develop in some areas.
They are warning of sudden changes of weather, such as localized thunderstorms and gusty winds.
