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Japan's 'unprecedented' heatwave has killed at least 65 people in one week, with the weather agency now classifying the record-breaking weather as a 'natural disaster'.

In the week to Sunday, at least 65 people died of heat stroke while 22,647 people were hospitalised, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said in a statement.

Both figures are 'the worst ever for any week during summer' since the agency began recording fatalities resulting from heat stroke in July 2008, a spokesman said.