Athens: Greece has taken significant measures to mitigate the impact of the first heatwave of the summer, shutting down the ancient Acropolis tourist site, suspending schools, and deploying medics across Athens. This proactive response comes as temperatures are forecasted to soar to 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday and Thursday, fueled by southerly winds carrying hot air and dust from North Africa.
The Acropolis hill, which houses the iconic Parthenon temple and is one of the world’s most renowned archaeological sites, was closed to visitors from noon to 5 p.m. (0900-1400 GMT). During this period, Red Cross staff distributed bottles of water to tourists to help them cope with the intense heat.
In addition to the Acropolis closure, many primary schools and nurseries across Greece will remain shut for two days to ensure the safety of children.
Greece is notably one of the most climate-affected countries in Europe. Last year, rising temperatures led to devastating wildfires, while erratic rainfall resulted in some of the worst flooding on record, severely damaging crops and livelihoods. The previous winter was the hottest on record with low rainfall, setting the stage for an increased risk of fires, according to scientists.
Similar extreme weather conditions were observed last year across much of southern Europe, including in Portugal, France, Spain, and Italy, where fires caused numerous fatalities.
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In Greece, wildfires have started earlier than usual this year, with one significant fire occurring as early as March. To combat this, firefighters and police have been patrolling forests both by air and on the ground as part of heightened efforts to prevent and control fires, especially with the forecasted windy conditions later in the week that could exacerbate the spread of fires.
Following last year’s devastating wildfires, including the massive evacuation on the island of Rhodes, Greece has enhanced its preparedness by hiring more staff and intensifying training efforts to better respond to such emergencies.
