An intense heatwave in Japan has seen more than 450 people hospitalised and treated for heat-related issues in a single day in Tokyo, while at least 14 fatalities have been recorded.

Japan’s emergency services on Thursday described the number of those hospitalised for heat-related medical issues as the highest recorded in 16 years.

According to the Tokyo Fire Department, a total of 453 people were hospitalised for heat-related issues on Wednesday, the most since records began in 2010.

Also, emergency callouts reached an all-time high on Thursday since 1963, as the heatwave ravages the country.

Japanese authorities on Wednesday said the heatwave “disaster” has resulted in at least 14 deaths across the country, while at least 11,000 sought emergency medical care over heat-related issues.

Temperatures hit 40C in six places in Japan on Thursday, while Hamamatsu in the central Shizuoka region recorded the highest temperature at 41.1C.

Toyota City, headquarters of the automobile giant, in Aichi Prefecture recorded 40.8C, while Kuwana in Mie Prefecture recorded 40.7C.