The United Kingdom recorded a historic temperature record on Tuesday July 19, the mercury having reached 39.1 degrees in south London, announced the British weather agency Met Office while the heat wave rages in Europe.
This is the second intense heat phenomenon in barely a month in Europe.
This multiplication is a direct consequence of the climate crisis according to scientists, with greenhouse gas emissions increasing in intensity, duration and frequency.
The mercury surpassed an all-time UK record with 39.1 degrees late morning in Charlwood, south London, the Met Office said, adding that temperatures would continue to rise during the day and could exceed the 40 degree mark in the south-east of the country.
The last British record dates back to July 25, 2019, with 38.7 degrees recorded in Cambridge (South-East).
Not able to handle such heat
“
Obviously the English are not used to that.
It's hard to be outside, even in the shade it's suffocating
, "said AFP Emily Nixon, 34, who on Monday found refuge in a municipal swimming pool in London.
On Monday, 38.1°C were recorded in the east of England, the highest temperature this year, the third on record in the United Kingdom.
And the country experienced its hottest night ever recorded between Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures which in places did not drop below 25 degrees, announced the Met Office.
At 10:00 GMT it was already over 37 degrees in south-east England.
Transport Minister Grant Schapps stressed on the BBC that "
no
", the country's public transport was not able to handle such heat.
The British rail network manager recorded the highest temperature ever recorded on a rail in the country: 62°C.
The government has been accused of taking the phenomenon lightly.
Resigning Prime Minister Boris Johnson skipped an emergency meeting on the crisis on Sunday, preferring to attend a farewell party, and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab told Britons to "
enjoy the sun
".
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Environmental activists from the group Extinction Rebellion smashed the windows of News UK, which publishes the tabloid The Sun, on Tuesday morning to protest against the treatment of the heat wave in certain media.
"
The Sun chose to feature images of women in bikinis, beaches and happy children with ice cream
," the group said.
Another tabloid on Monday headlined, "
It's not the end of the world, stay cool and carry on
."
Risk of drought
Elsewhere in Europe, the Netherlands, which recorded its hottest day of the year on Monday with 35.4°C, was already facing temperatures of 33 degrees around 11:20 a.m. (9:20 a.m. GMT).
Some 39°C are expected in the afternoon.
Belgium fears records, the thermometer can climb in places up to 40°C.
Exceptionally, the major museums run by the federal state are accessible free of charge to those over 65 who can find something fresh there.
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About half of the territory of the EU is currently facing a risk of drought due to the prolonged lack of precipitation, which exposes countries such as France, Romania, Spain, Portugal and Italy to a probable decline in crop yields, according to the European Commission.