‘Welcome to global warming’: Greece warns against unnecessary work as temperatures soar

ATHENS: Greek authorities warned the public against unnecessary work and travel on Friday (Jul 30) as temperatures hit 40 degrees Celsius in Athens and the ancient Acropolis, its most visited monument, was briefly forced to close.

Temperatures have been high in much of the country in recent days and are expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius on Monday and Tuesday, the National Meteorological Service said, warning of a high risk of wildfires during a “dangerous” heatwave.

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“We are constantly recording maximum record temperatures all these years, which means that climate change is here,” said Stavros Solomos, researcher at the Centre for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology of the Academy of Athens.

“We are expecting to have more frequent, more intense heatwaves,” he said, as well as “tropical nights” – where temperatures do not fall below 25 to 30 degrees Celsius.

The Acropolis, which looks out over the capital, closed for a few hours as it does when temperatures rise, to protect tourists from the heat.

The heatwave was characterised as dangerous because it was expected to last several days – at least until next Friday, with the peak expected on Monday and Tuesday, said Theodoros Kolydas, head of the weather service.

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Citizens’ Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis warned of “extremely high temperatures” and urged people “to show the highest degree of responsibility and cooperation”.

He added: “I also want to appeal to our fellow citizens to avoid unnecessary travel in the heat but also unnecessary work.”

Earlier this month, Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyiannis appointed a chief heat officer, the first in Europe, to help tackle extreme heat.

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“Welcome to global warming! It’s very hot, it’s very oppressive,” said George Papabeis, a Greek-American tourist, as he made his way through central Athens.

On the capital’s beaches, conditions were equally dire.

“I think it will be like hell. I’m not happy about it,” said May Ben Atia, a tourist from Israel. “It becomes so hot you can actually feel it in your skin,” she said.

More than 1,000 people died in 1987 in Greece’s deadliest heatwave, with scorching temperatures for over a week.

Firefighters have tackled more than 40 wildfires in the last 24 hours, the fire brigade said, fanned by winds and high temperatures. A raging blaze north of Athens on Tuesday burned at least a dozen homes before being brought under control.

Neighbouring Turkey has been hit by wildfires in which four people have been killed this week.