Pubs and parks bring together those who want to enjoy the southern heat of London. But far from everyone thrives in the heat wave that has now fully hit the UK. news meets Terry Kane who is hurrying home in the scorching sun. Over his shoulder he carries the oxygen tank. – I have to use oxygen. I try to get home before 15. Then it’s warmest, he says. Terry Kane tries to avoid the worst heat. Photo: Håvard Blekastad Almås / news On Tuesday afternoon, a new heat record was set for the whole of Great Britain. Then the scale showed 40.2 at Heathrow Airport outside London. This is the first time it has been measured over 40 degrees in the country. But the new record did not last long. In Coningsby in Lincolnshire, 40.3 degrees was measured shortly after. Scotland and Wales have also set local heat records. The Met Office, the UK’s meteorological institute, also reports over 40 degrees several other places in the country. Several places with over 40 degrees. Photo: Met Office / Twitter For the first time, the authorities have issued a warning about extreme heat. And the British are struggling, says Andy Curran, a doctor at Lancashire Teaching Hospital. – It’s a balancing act. We do not get much good weather and we want to enjoy it, but we are talking here about temperatures we have not experienced in this country, ever or for a long time. Our bodies, our houses, our culture and our lifestyle are not prepared for this, he tells the BBC. Among other things, the authorities ask people to keep an eye on each other, get enough fluids and limit physical activity. Photo: NIKLAS HALLE’N / AFP Trains and planes canceled On Tuesday, forest fires were reported in several places in the country, writes The Guardian. In London alone, firefighters are battling ten separate fires. Among other things, there is a full fire on a highway east of the city. The fire service has declared it a “major incident”, ie something that corresponds to a serious incident or crisis situation. – This is critical: London’s fire service is under enormous pressure. Please be safe, writes rapporteur Sadiq Khan on Twitter. Some hospitals in England are said to have had to postpone operations, reports The Guardian. “In the last 48 hours, we have heard that some hospitals have to scale down the number of planned operations because the operating rooms are too hot,” says Miriam Deakin from the hospital group NHS Providers. The government, for its part, says that the health service handles the heat well, writes the Daily Mail. People resting in the shade in a park in London. Photo: Gry Blekastad Almås / news Some schools have closed early or completely as a result of the heat. Train companies have asked passengers to skip travel unless they are absolutely necessary. Several train departures have been canceled and there is otherwise a major delay. Luton Airport in London had to cancel several flights on Monday because the runway became too hot. It is not just people who need to be protected. The Chester Zoo reports on Twitter that they are closing their doors until Wednesday, to keep animals, staff and guests safe. news’s team and equipment in London also got to feel the heat. In the middle of filming, the camera went on strike and had to be cooled down in the ice counter. Together with the correspondent. “Hot Apocalypse” Britain is not the only country that is boiling. This is the second heat wave to hit Europe in a month. Huge forest fires are now raging in Spain, Portugal and France. So far, hundreds of heat-related deaths have been reported. – In some southwestern parts of France there will be a heat apocalypse, says meteorologist François Gourand to AFP. Firefighter looks out over the flames at Landira’s southwest of France. Photo: SDIS 33 / AP Climate research is aware that humans’ emissions of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases contribute to more frequent and more intense heat waves. The globe today is 1.1 degrees warmer than pre-industrial times. The countries of the world have agreed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Enormous, rapid emissions cuts are needed if we are to achieve this, and avoid the worst consequences of climate change, according to the UN Climate Panel. – The direction is clear. In the future, this type of heat wave will be normal and we will see even more extreme variants, says Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) at a press conference on Tuesday. – I hope this type of incident will be an eye opener for many governments. And in democratic countries, I also hope it will affect how people vote, he says. He hopes events like this heat wave will be an “eye opener” for politicians and voters. He does not look forward to future temperatures. Photo: Håvard Blekastad Almås / news Back in London, Terry Kane is worried about the future. – Maybe we need to get used to this heat? – Yes, he says with a sigh. – People are failing the planet.
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The British cook in record heat – 40 degrees measured for the first time – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
