TOKYO, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius in the southwestern Japanese city of Fukuoka on Wednesday, while a wide area of Japan experienced scorching heat, the weather agency said.
The mercury reached 40.4 degrees Celsius at 1:29 p.m. local time in Hakata Ward in Fukuoka City, affected by hot, moist air from a typhoon flowing into the surrounding region, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Meanwhile, due to a high pressure system bringing hot and sunny conditions to a wide stretch of the country, temperatures topped 35 degrees Celsius in many places, mainly in western Japan, including quake-hit Kumamoto Prefecture, the JMA said.
Heatstroke alerts were issued in 37 of Japan's 47 prefectures. ■