Heatwave claims 15 lives in Japan

Cooling down: An ice block on display at a pedestrian sidewalk during a heatwave in Tokyo. (Below) A father and his son walking on a beach at a seaside park in Tokyo. — AFP

Tokyo: Japan’s severe heatwave killed at least 15 people and sent more than 12,000 to hospital in the first two weeks of July, official figures show as the temperature neared 40°C in many cities.

Twelve people died of heatstroke in the week ending July 15 after three perished in the preceding week, according to latest data.