Heat wave in Europe: With a peak of 45 degrees, Greece has restricted access to the Acropolis in Athens and other tourist sites

Greece On Thursday announced that the archaeological sites of them AcropolisThey will stay Closed during the hottest hours of the day Because of a new heat wave.

The nation is bracing for new high temperatures through Sunday, with 43 degrees peaks Celsius temperatures were forecast in the center of the country on Thursday.

“Due to the high temperatures, the hours of the archaeological sites … will be adjusted and (the sites) They will be closed from 12:00 to 17:30. (09.00-14.30 GMT), reported the Greek Ministry of Culture.

In addition, due to a previously announced work stoppage by the Acropolis security guards, The site will remain closed until the end of the day from Thursday to Sunday.

The Guardians Union denounced this At least 20 visitors in the complex fainted Because of the temperatures that can reach 45 degrees.

The World Heritage site is currently under a An increase in the number of visitors And it was actually closed last weekend during the hottest hours.

As Greece announced the restrictions, Firefighters are still battling wildfires west of AthensWhich has so far burned thousands of hectares.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned: “We still have a heat wave and strong winds ahead, the difficult times are not over yet, we must be vigilant.”

Firefighting planes and ground crews from various European countries headed to Greece. Three teams of firefighters Poland, Romania and Slovakia He will arrive in Greece on Thursday while Israel Two firefighting planes were dispatched, in addition to four firefighting planes Italy and France already operating in the outskirts Athens.

In an all-out battle to preserve forests, industrial plants, and vacation homes, the Evacuations continued for a third day Along the highway connecting Athens with the southern city Maroon.

Temperatures are expected in southern Greece 44 degrees Celsius At the end of the week, in the second heat wave to hit southern Mediterranean Europe in two weeks.

The northern hemisphere, days ago, was going through b An intense heat wave that does not subside.

The authorities raised the alert status to red in many places because of the continuation high temperatures which, according to the locals, has been described as “Inhumane” And “Stifling“.

This summer it is Hottest in decades According to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average temperature is higher than the previous maximum dating back to June 2020. There is a 97% chance that May 2023 is one of the five hottest years on record.

It brought the heat wave with it wave records, although it does not deserve any award. Several cities around the world have broken all-time high temperature records in recent weeks and have been added to the list of hottest places this summer.

Iran It was one of the countries that joined this platform. he Persian Gulf International Airport Last Sunday saw a historic heat of 66.7 crecorded at noon.

It comes to Unbearable conditions for human lifewhich severely affects the local population.

Together with the Persian state, China It broke the record for the highest temperature in its history. Higher than the previous high of 50.6°C, which was dated to July 2017, the country’s meteorological department said. 52.2 c in the municipality Sanbaoin XinjiangAlso on Sunday.

But you don’t have to go that far to experience this stifling heat; Europe Also had its place in the list.

This Tuesday, both Rome how Catalonia they lived the warmest days at all, with temperatures of 42.9 c And 45.3 c respectively.

The latter is close to The highest level on the continent is at 48.8°C – which happened in Sicily in August 2021 – and which experts fear could be easily overcome in the coming days.

(With information from AFP)

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