48 hours in pictures, 2 August 2026

We bring you a visual snapshot of the day’s news events, featuring Hindu devotees taking part in the Theemithi fire-walking ceremony at the Shri Anantha Muthumariamman Temple in Benoni, a passenger ferry engulfed in flames off Indonesia’s Madura Island after a deadly fire at sea, and Greek firefighters battling a wildfire near Porto Germeno as blazes continue to ravage parts of the country. These are some of the compelling images from around the world. This aerial picture shows the passenger ship Mutiara Sentosa 2 catching fire in the waters off Madura island, East Java, on August 2, 2026.

Five people have been found dead, 41 are missing and 225 were rescued after an Indonesian ferry caught fire while at sea on August 2, search and rescue officials said. (Photo by FRIDA PERKASA / AFP) Britain’s artistic swimmers Isabelle Thorpe and Ranjuo Tomblin compete in the mixed duet technical swimming final event during the LEN European Aquatics Championships, at the Olympic Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, northeastern suburbs of Paris, on August 2, 2026. (Photo by Sébastien BOZON / AFP) Hindu devotees take part in rituals, 2 August 2026, during the Theemithi fire-walking ceremony at the Shri Anantha Muthumariamman Temple in New Modder, Benoni.

The ceremony marks the conclusion of the 10-day annual Aadi Muthumariamman fire-walking festival, during which hundreds of devotees fulfil sacred vows as an expression of faith, courage and devotion to Shri Anantha Muthumariamman. The festival features daily prayers, colourful processions, devotional music, Vedic chanting, sacred homams, elaborate alankarams and other religious observances, with worshippers gathering to seek the blessings of Shri Muthumariamman. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Sri Lankan Army personnel patrol on a military tank outside the Mahara Prison complex on the outskirts of Colombo on August 2, 2026.

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At least one inmate was killed and another six were taken to hospital after a riot at a prison outside Sri Lanka’s capital on August 1, police said. KODIKARA / AFP) A girl plays in a fountain to cool off in Seoul on August 2, 2026. South Korea registered its highest temperature since records began more than a century ago on August 2, as authorities warned people to “immediately” stop all outdoor activities in affected areas.

(Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) Candice Desilets, Yana Auger and Diane Desilets during the high-tea celebration at Glenda’s Restaurant on August 01, 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Desilets is the first South African ballerina to graduate from The Vaganova Ballet Academy. (Photo by Gallo Images/Wessel Oosthuizen) Veterans of the Russian Airborne Forces celebrate Paratroopers’ Day in Saint Petersburg on August 2, 2026.

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