The UK's severe heatwave is causing significant disruption to university open days, with University College London (UCL) among those cancelling crucial events due to safety concerns. Thousands of prospective students and their parents were set to attend the open days in central London, but UCL has urged them not to travel, citing the wellbeing of visitors, students, and staff.
In a statement, UCL apologised for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation, which affects two scheduled events on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, Imperial College London is offering an online alternative after cancelling its open day today. In contrast, King's College London has confirmed that its event on Saturday will proceed as planned.
The decision to cancel university open days is a stark reflection of the escalating crisis across Europe, where temperatures are soaring. The UK remains under red extreme heat warnings, while France has issued similar alerts for 72 out of 96 mainland departments. Italy has also warned of excessive heat in 17 cities, with temperatures already reaching 33C in Nantes and 31C in Paris by 10am local time.
The health implications of the heatwave are becoming increasingly worrying. The Mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Gregoire, reported an increase in mortality attributed to the heatwave, but refused to provide specific figures. He warned that nearly all indicators were in a critical state, with emergency medical services, fire brigade responses, and hospital admissions under severe strain.
Cities across Eastern Europe are bracing for temperatures of up to 40C over the weekend, including Bratislava, Budapest, Prague, and Warsaw. The prolonged heatwave is causing widespread disruption, underscoring the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events on the continent.