The head of the ministry of defence fire and rescue service of Japan stated that at least 688 people were hospitalized for heatstroke during the period from 16 to 22 May, TASS reported.

According to the ministry, the age of a half of hospitalized people was over 65, no deaths occurred. In total about 1.7 thousand people have suffered from heat one of them died about in Japan for the last month.

Since the end of last week, the hot weather has been established in the central part of the country, including in the capital region, where above 30 degrees Celsius was registered in the afternoon. The Japanese meteorologists predict hot summer this year due to the impact of climatic phenomena of El Niño and La Nina in the Pacific Ocean.

Last year more than 100 people died because of the heat in Japan, 53 thousand more were hospitalized. Japanese doctors urge people not to be in the sun for a long time, wear hats and use as much liquid as possible.