British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will chair a meeting of the government’s emergency response committee on Aug 12 to discuss measures to tackle extreme heat, wildfires and drought, his office said, as Britain faces its fifth heatwave of 2026.

Temperatures are likely to hit around 37 deg C from Aug 13 across southern and eastern England and parts of the Midlands, the country’s meteorological office warned on Aug 11.

Fire chiefs say they have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales in 2026, including 185 in the first 10 days of August alone, while the farming industry has warned of a hit to production.

“We will continue to take the action needed to keep communities safe, protect water supplies, support farming communities and safeguard the environment,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Most of Britain is experiencing a flash drought caused by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures. England and Wales recorded their driest July in 190 years, the Met Office said.

Around 45 million people in the country are living in a drought-hit area and 27 million people are facing restrictions on their water use, according to government figures.

An estimated 2,877 people in Britain have died from heat-related causes in 2026, ⁠British health authorities said in July.

Prolonged dry weather – which scientists say is exacerbated by climate change – has hit agriculture, public water supplies and wildlife. REUTERS

British PM Burnham to chair emergency meeting on heatwaves, drought