In Japan, scorching summer weather has claimed the lives of at least 132 people with more than 30,000 people rushed to hospital with heatstroke. Authorities today said the mercury has repeatedly topped 37 degrees Celsius in recent days in central Tokyo and other locations in Japan and the sun continued to blaze down as the figures were released. According to Fire and Disaster Management Agency, 31,579 people nationwide were sent to hospital with heatstroke between May 31 and August 15. Nearly half of them were aged 65 or over. The agency said at least 132 people were confirmed dead immediately after they reached hospital and more people were believed to have died later.