On Wednesday and Thursday, Greece imposed restrictions on tourist visits to the Acropolis and suspended school classes due to soaring temperatures expected to hit 43℃, as reported by Reuters.
With hot air masses from Africa sweeping in, Greece braces for temperatures exceeding 40℃ in the upcoming days.
As a result, elementary school classes and kindergarten activities have been halted, and medical teams are on standby across various districts in Athens.
To mitigate the heat's impact on visitors, the Acropolis will be closed during the hottest hours of the day, from noon to 5 p.m. The Red Cross will provide water to tourists during operating hours.
In anticipation of potential wildfires, firefighters and police are conducting extensive patrols in forested areas. Greece, like other Mediterranean regions of Europe, faces the recurring threat of forest fires during the scorching summer months.
Forest fires have already been reported in Greece this June, with increased fire danger announced as early as April.
Last year, wildfires on the island of Rhodes disrupted the tourist season, prompting thousands of evacuations. To encourage tourism, Greece is offering free stays to those affected last year. Since then, the country has bolstered its emergency services readiness.
