Locals sweltered as the temperature soared to 39 degrees Celsius in Japan.

Footage shows a clear blue sky over Shizuoka City, with flags fluttering in light winds on August 5.

The filmer said: 'It seems that 41.4 degrees Celsius was recorded in Shizuoka City, but it definitely feels even hotter. There's wind, but the heat radiating off the road is insane. It feels like being blasted by a hairdryer the whole time.'

Local media reported that a severe heatwave is currently affecting large parts of the country and is forecast to persist throughout the week.

On Monday, Japan's Meteorological Agency issued heatstroke alerts in 36 prefectures due to the extreme conditions.

At 1:40 pm, Komatsu City in Ishikawa Prefecture recorded the highest temperature of the day at 40.3 degrees Celsius. Toyama City followed closely at 39.8 degrees, while both Mima in Tokushima Prefecture and Sakai in Fukui Prefecture reported temperatures of 39.2 degrees Celsius.

Officials have urged organisers to consider cancelling or rescheduling outdoor events to minimise health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations.