Greece suffers a second four-day heat wave since late June, leading to the closure of the city’s biggest attraction, the Acropolis, on Tuesday, July 8th, protecting visitors and workers from slow heat.
The Greek Ministry of Culture said there are serious safety concerns as temperatures reached 38°C in Athens and peaked at 42°C elsewhere, with similar conditions predicted on Wednesday.
The 2,500-year memorial, which saw 4.5 million visitors last year (an increase of 15% since 2023), has increased the risk of tens of thousands of visitors daily visits with little shade. To protect outdoor workers, the Ministry of Labor has implemented work halts from noon to 5pm in several areas, including the islands, affecting construction deadlines and delivery riders’ jobs. The risk of wildfires in Greece is also rising, with up to 50 fires reported daily in Athens, Central Greece and the area surrounding Peloponneses.
The extreme heat in Europe turns into extreme storms
Meanwhile, the intense storm is wreaking havoc throughout the Balkans. In Serbia, 620 fires were recorded on Monday, July 7th, followed by 620 fires along with the threat of hurricane winds in Vojbodina and other regions, national weather services warned of the risk of fires. Croatia faced similar chaos, heavy rain and strong winds flooded, causing power outages in the split, breaking freely, and sinking tourist boats. In Vinkovci, two people were hospitalized after Arashi lowered the power line above the house.
Further north, Hungary and Slovakia have fought against destructive winds. Budapest’s roof was damaged, trees fell, and the wind reached 137 km/h. Due to wind, rail services are set to be suspended for several weeks. In Slovakia, the Galeforce winds tore blocks of Guernica’s flat roofs, blocking roads and railways. The Slovak Weather Service has issued a storm warning that predicts heavy rain, wind, and ailing in the central and eastern regions.
As Southern Europe tackles this double heat and storm onslaught, authorities are urging residents and visitors to be vigilant and take precautions.
