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UK will hold emergency response meeting ahead of record temperatures
The British government is set to hold an emergency response meeting Saturday (July 16) to plan for record high temperatures after authorities issued their first ever “red” warning for extreme heat early next week, the Alarabiya English reported, citing the Associated Press.
It said, the alert covers large parts of England on Monday and Tuesday when temperatures may reach 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time, posing a risk of serious illness and even death among healthy people, the UK Met office said Friday. The British record is 38.7C (101.7F), set in 2019.
Rail passengers and users of the London Underground are being advised not to travel on Monday and Tuesday unless it is absolutely necessary.
With children and older people considered particularly vulnerable to high temperatures, schools and care homes have been urged to take steps to protect students and older residents.
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“If customers do need to travel, they should check before they travel as we are expecting there to be some impact to Tube and rail services as a result of temporary speed restrictions, we will need to introduce to keep everyone safe,” said Andy Lord, chief operating officer of Transport for London, which runs the capital’s transportation system.
It should be noted that the alert comes as scientists say climate change is increasing the likelihood of exceptional heat waves in Britain, a country unaccustomed to such temperatures.
Source: alarabiyaenglish
