Early heat wave shatters Europe records

The UK smashed a century-old temperature record for the second time in 24 hours Tuesday as a spring heat wave scorches parts of Western Europe, triggering government warnings about risks to life.

Several drownings were reported in Britain and France as people tried to cool down.

A temperature of 35.1 degrees Celsius was recorded at London's Kew Gardens, Britain's Met Office weather service said, breaking the 34.8 C record set a day earlier at Kew.

The provisional readings smashed the long-standi ...