The UK is facing a severe situation due to the fourth consecutive heat wave, which has fueled the outbreak of fires in several regions of the country, from Suffolk to east London.
Temperatures reaching 35°C and a lack of rainfall have left almost half of England in dry conditions, significantly increasing the risk of fires.
One of the most serious outbreaks was recorded at Dunwich Heath, in Suffolk, where the flames spread rapidly due to strong winds. As a safety measure, authorities evacuated about 200 caravans from the Cliff House Holiday Park, removing hundreds of holidaymakers overnight.
Due to its size and high risk, the fire was declared a "major incident" as the front of the flames approached the Sizewell B nuclear power plant, just four kilometers away. However, authorities have announced that there is no immediate danger to the facility, while dozens of firefighters continue operations to protect homes and bring the situation under control.
London has also been hit by several fires. In Romford, east of the capital, a blaze has destroyed around 30 hectares of grassland, while around 100 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze in the Raynham area. Popular green areas, such as Blackheath, have been reduced to dry, scorched landscapes.
The Met Office and the Environment Agency have described the situation as an “exceptionally severe” drought. After weeks of minimal rainfall and one of the hottest summers ever recorded in the UK, water reserves are dwindling at an alarming rate.
Meanwhile, the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) has issued an orange alert for the most vulnerable groups in London, the East Midlands and South East England.
Fire services in England and Wales have responded to more than 700 fires this year, authorities say, with 200 of them in the past two weeks alone. The situation also remains dire in Scotland, where firefighters battled a major blaze in the Cairngorms for days.
Authorities are urging citizens to avoid affected areas and keep doors and windows closed in areas where smoke is thick, as the country continues to grapple with the consequences of extreme weather.
