TOKYO -- Temperatures soared in central Japan's Tokai region and the Kinki and Shikoku areas of western Japan on July 24, with the mercury topping 40 degrees Celsius for the fourth straight day in the country.

The city of Kuwana in central Japan's Mie Prefecture recorded a temperature of 40.8 C at 2:58 p.m., while the city of Mino in central Japan's Gifu Prefecture saw the temperature rise to 40.2 C at 2:13 p.m., Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) data showed.

According to the JMA, it was the fourth day in a row for the temperature in Japan to hit 40 C or more, tying the longest streak on record, set in 2013 and 2025.

A total of 242 of the nation's 914 observation points recorded temperatures of 35 C or higher.

(Mainichi)