Greece is currently grappling with the effects of a never-before-seen heat wave, which broke temperature records and killed several tourists. Travelers have received emergency alerts due to the heat wave, with temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius for at least three days.
Greece is experiencing an earlier than usual heat wave, forcing the closure of popular tourist destinations in Athens and surrounding areas. The Acropolis, Greece’s most popular tourist destination, closed its doors on Wednesday and Thursday due to extreme temperatures, causing some people to faint while standing in line. The level three heat alert issued by Greek authorities advises citizens to stay indoors and avoid physically tiring outdoor activities.
The highest temperature ever recorded was in Chania, a city on Crete’s northwestern coast, with a temperature of 44.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday. On Friday morning, another earthquake of magnitude 3.7 struck the region. Temperatures in central Athens reached 42 degrees Celsius, prompting health advisories to be issued and schools to close.
Many other archaeological sites in the Peloponnese, Dodecanese, Cyclades and Crete have had to close due to the heat. Strong winds, in addition to the scorching heat, have made Greece even more vulnerable to fires. Greece’s Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, declared that ten districts, including Attica, which surrounds Athens, are at “very high” fire risk, causing civil protection to be put on “high alert”.
Despite these difficulties, the Acropolis welcomed almost four million visitors in 2023, partly due to cruise liner visits to the neighbouring port of Piraeus. But even though cooler temperatures are predicted for Friday, Greece is still on high alert in case the harsh weather conditions of summer persist.
