The highest temperature increase in a week has scorched eastern Japan, prompting the government to appeal to citizens to cut electricity use as much as possible. While people are constantly using air conditioners to stay safe from rising temperatures.
Temperatures in the area around Tokyo rose above 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) on Friday for the seventh day in a row, and Tokyoites faced a hot weekend. However, on Monday, a slightly cooler temperature in the weather and possibly rain can bring relief to the city.
For the first time this week, officials on Friday gave no new information about a potential power shortage, although there could be a reduction in energy supply and a hike in prices. The government will have to consider restarting nuclear reactors that have been shut down since the Fukushima disaster of March 2011.
The city of Isesaki recorded 40.3C (104.5F), the highest in Japan this year, and several other cities north of the capital recorded 40.1 and 40. The capital Tokyo recorded 37C (98.6F).
“Due to the record high temperatures, we had (power) demand nearly equal to summer peak levels in June – before we were able to gather sufficient supply resources. That’s why things got tight,” an official at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), news agency Reuters reported.
Some train stations even shut down their escalators and an amusement park in Yokohama, turned off the lights on its Ferris wheel and ropeways at night, the Nikkei Shimbun reported.
The onset of summer coincided with the early end of the rainy season, which lasted barely two weeks in parts of Japan. Dams have collapsed and there have been demands for water conservation in some areas. A tropical storm could bring rain and slightly cooler temperatures to Japan next week.
Featured: Reuters
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