UK heatwave latest: London bus catches fire on June’s hottest day
An electric bus has been completely destroyed after a depot went up in flames as UK temperatures hit the hottest they’ve been in 50 years.
An electric bus has been completely destroyed after a depot went up in flames as UK temperatures hit the hottest they’ve been in 50 years.
Smoke could be seen rising from Westbourne Park’s bus station after a double-decker electric bus burst into flames.
The bus and two charging points have been destroyed, with the London Fire Brigade sending out four pumps to get things under control.
Hours earlier, a woman reported being removed from her bus elsewhere in London as it struggled in the heat, although LfB have not confirmed the cause of this incident.
It’s been an exceptionally hot day as the June record has been smashed again after a temperature of 36.1C was recorded in Gosport, Hampshire.
It came just moments after 36C was recorded in Wisley, Surrey, breaking the longstanding previous record of 35.6°C set in 1976.
The heat dome gripping western Europe has truly landed over Britain, with the Met Office warning of a risk to life and issuing a red weather warning.
London’s Tower Bridge, Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory in Greenwich and some Royal Parks playgrounds are closed until Thursday, while the iconic Changing the Guard is paused until Thursday in London and Windsor.
Over 1,000 schools, most of them in southern England, are fully or partially closed today to protect students from the heat.
Commuters are also suffering rail delays with several major rail operators telling people to travel only if ‘absolutely necessary’ during the exceptional spell, which has seen timetables being heavily cut.
Meanwhile, the severe weather continues to wreak havoc on the London Underground, with disruption on the majority of lines ahead of rush hour.
Neso, the body making sure that the UK’s electricity supply matches demand, has asked suppliers to ramp up capacity as people rely on fans and air conditioning to keep cool.