dpa
Athens
The Greek authorities have closed all archaeological sites, including the Acropolis above Athens and the ancient site of Olympia, during the afternoon hours on account of temperatures hitting 43 degrees Celsius in parts.
The sites would be closed between noon and 5pm, the Culture Ministry said on Thursday as temperatures soared across the country amid a heatwave that started in early July.
The Citizen Protection Ministry warned of the hazard of fires in most of central and southern Greece. The least fire could turn into a major blaze on account of the dry conditions and strong winds sweeping in off the Aegean Sea, a fire services spokesman said on national television.
Conditions were easier on Crete and the Aegean islands, where a sea breeze was providing a cooling effect and cutting temperatures to 35 degrees, the weather office said.
The Labour Ministry has ordered a halt to delivery services for the afternoon hours. The construction sector has also stopped work during the same period. Anyone able to do so should be permitted to work from home, the ministry said.
Weather office experts said on Greek radio that temperatures in the sun could reach a life-threatening 60 degrees. They held out little hope of a change in the days ahead - “perhaps at the end of next week,” they said.
For weeks, warm air from North Africa has been passing over southern Europe. Night-time temperatures have
risen above 30 degrees in many areas.
