more than 40 degrees - Due to extreme heat: Greece closes all archaeological sites
A heatwave that has been ongoing since early July reached a new peak in Greece on Thursday. With temperatures expected to exceed 43 degrees in some areas, all archaeological sites between noon and 5 pm local time will be closed, according to the Culture Ministry. Affected sites include the iconic Acropolis of Athens and the ancient site of Olympia.
The Civil Protection warned of severe fire danger in most regions of Central and Southern Greece. The smallest fire could be transformed into a major fire due to the dryness and strong winds currently blowing around the Aegean Sea, a fire department spokesperson said on Greek television.
Greek Civil Protection Warns of Fire Danger
The situation is somewhat better on Crete and the Aegean Islands. The sea breeze provides some cooling to temperatures around 35 degrees, according to the Meteorological Service.
The Labor Ministry ordered all delivery services to be suspended during the hottest afternoon hours (12-5 pm). Construction work was also halted at noon for the next five hours. The Labor Ministry urged people to work from home if possible. Meteorologists warned on radio that temperatures under the sun could reach values over 60 degrees. This is life-threatening.
Hot air masses have been coming from North Africa for weeks and are causing problems for people in wide areas of Southeastern Europe. Thermometers in most regions show temperatures above 30 degrees even at night. Metrologists cannot precisely say when this prolonged heatwave will end. "Perhaps by the end of next week," they concurred on Greek radio.
Despite the ongoing heat wave, some respite can be found on the Aegean Islands. The sea breeze keeps temperatures around 35 degrees, providing a slight relief compared to the rest of Greece. The iconic Acropolis of Athena in Athens, as well as the ancient site of Olympia, continue to remain closed due to the extreme heat during the afternoons. The risk of wildfires remains high across Greece, with the smallest fire having the potential to rapidly escalate due to the dryness and strong winds around the Aegean Sea.
Read also:
- Fear of escalation in the Middle East: US Secretary of State Blinken travels to the region again
- Government circles: US Secretary of State Blinken to travel to Middle East again
- Bridging days 2024: How you can double your vacation this year
- Germany has wanderlust: how tour operators and airlines are looking ahead to the next travel year
