TOKYO - A total of 100,143 people in Japan have been taken to hospital due to heatstroke this season, exceeding 100,000 for the first time, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

The figure from May through Sept 28 marks the highest number since 2015 when the survey period was expanded to include May, surpassing the record 97,578 logged last year, preliminary data released by the agency showed Tuesday.

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Of the total transported, 116 of the patients died this year and 36,448 others developed symptoms that required hospitalization.

Elderly people aged 65 or older accounted for 57,235, or more than half of the total.

By prefecture, Tokyo had the most cases with 9,309, followed by Osaka with 7,175, and Aichi with 6,630.