New restrictive measures affect Greece. All the archaeological sites of the country, including the Acropolis of Athens, will remain closed from Thursday to Sunday during the hottest hours of the day due to a new heat wave, announced the Greek Ministry of Culture. Peaks of 44°C have been recorded in the region of Thebes, Greece. Friday and Saturday, in the center of the country, 45°C are expected.
“Due to high temperatures, the schedules of the archaeological sites (…) will be modified and they will close from noon to 5:30 p.m.”, indicates the press release from the ministry. Due to an already announced work stoppage by the Acropolis guardians, the monument will remain closed until the end of the day from Thursday to Sunday. According to the PEYFA guards union, no less than 20 visitors fainted on the site classified as a World Heritage Site and already partially closed last weekend due to temperatures around 45°C. The Red Cross again went to the scene to distribute tens of thousands of bottles of water to tourists.
Authorities also recommend locals and tourists to reduce their exposure to the sun, especially in the afternoon. Air-conditioned centers have been opened in different cities of the country, so that people who do not have an air conditioner can benefit from them.
Since last Thursday, the Mediterranean rim has been subject to extreme heat. Nearly 47 fires have broken out in Greece, according to firefighters. Two days ago, 1,200 children had to leave their summer camp near Loutraki, located nearly 80 kilometers west of Athens. The city was threatened by the flames, fanned by violent gusts of wind. On the Kouvaras side, about 50 kilometers east of the capital, another fire spread to Avavyssos, 40 kilometers southeast of Athens. Several houses in Kouvaras, located just a few dozen kilometers from the capital, were burned. Residents and occupants of several seaside areas were evacuated.
