Tokyo battles deadly heatwave and power crisis

Japan baked under scorching temperatures for a fourth successive day on Tuesday, as the capital’s heat broke 150-yearold records for June and authorities warned power supply remained tight enough to raise the spectre of cuts.

The heatwave comes less than two weeks before a national election in which prices, including the cost of electricity, are among the issues picked by voters in opinion polls that show the government’s approval rating slipping with politicians including Tokyo’s governor urging power price cuts.

A high of 34°C was predicted for Tokyo on Tuesday, after three successive days of temperatures topping 35°C, the hottest streak of weather in June since records began in 1875.

Hospital admissions from heatstroke rose early in the day, with many in the capital flouting government advice by continuing to wear face masks outdoors, a legacy of more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

For a second day, authorities asked consumers in the Tokyo area to conserve electricity to avoid a looming power cut.

By 9am local time, 13 people had been taken to hospital with suspected heatstroke, Fuji News Network said.

At least two people are believed to have died from heatstroke, media said, prompting authorities to moderate their calls for power saving.

“Apparently there are some elderly people who have turned off their air conditioners because we are asking people to save energy, but please it’s this hot

don’t hesitate about cooling off,” trade and industry minister Koichi Hagiuda said.

On Tuesday, the ministry of economy, trade and industry said power supply predictions had improved slightly, but still called for consumers to be economical with power use.

Monday’s warning prompted government offices to turn off some lights in the afternoon and evening.

Electronics stores took similar steps, shutting off televisions and other goods on sales floors that would normally be kept on to lure buyers. Some Tokyo residents said on social media they were turning off all appliances not in use.

PRICE CUTS

But politicians began to call for further steps. Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike attended a meeting of Tokyo Electric Power shareholders on Tuesday, later saying that she had called for price cuts, Fuji News Network reported.

AUTHORITIES ASKED CONSUMERS IN THE TOKYO AREA TO CONSERVE ELECTRICITY TO AVOID A LOOMING POWER CUT