August 12, 2026, London, England, United Kingdom: Empty deck chairs sit in the scorching sun in a completely dry Hyde Park which is normally covered in green grass as drought conditions continue. The UK Environment Agency declared an official ‘flash drought’ for London and multiple other regions across England and Wales. This follows an unprecedented period of hot weather, multiple severe heatwaves, and exceptionally low rainfall, with the UK recording its driest July in modern history. (Credit Image: © Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire) #zumapress #journalism #London #drought v_valcic