As Greece grapples with escalating temperatures and wildfire threats, the Acropolis has announced a temporary closure for visitor safety.
Acropolis Temporarily Closes Amidst Severe Heatwave in Greece
Acropolis Temporarily Closes Amidst Severe Heatwave in Greece
The iconic site in Athens is shut down due to exceptionally high temperatures and wildfire warnings.
The Acropolis, one of the world's most revered ancient monuments, is closing its doors on Tuesday from 13:00 to 17:00 local time as the country faces sweltering heat. With temperatures reaching up to 42°C (107°F), Greece's culture ministry made the decision to temporarily shut down the site situated in Athens, aiming to ensure the safety of both workers and visitors.
The extreme heat has raised alarm bells across the country, prompting a category four wildfire warning in several regions. In total, Greece reported 41 wildfires broke out on Monday, with 34 contained and 7 still active by Monday evening. The areas of Attica, the Peloponnese, central Greece, Thessaly, and western Greece received dire warnings, as weather forecasts predict that the unrelenting heat will persist into Wednesday.
To mitigate the risks posed by the extreme heat, Greece's labor ministry has mandated a five-hour work stoppage for outdoor workers in regions facing the worst conditions. The national heatwave echoed distressing events earlier this summer, as similar unprecedented temperatures resulted in closures at the Acropolis last June and July.
This alarming weather pattern aligns with the ongoing crisis across southern and western Europe, where wildfires have wreaked havoc in different countries, including France and Spain's Catalonia region. Evacuations continue as more than 1,000 firefighters combat a blaze near Narbonne, and over 2,000 people remain under lockdown in Catalonia due to a persistent wildfire.
The recent spate of extreme heat across Europe, according to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is increasingly tied to climate change. The body has warned that such heatwaves, marked by increasingly fierce and frequent weather anomalies, are set to become the new normal if global temperatures continue to rise.
As Greece navigates this dire situation, officials continue to urge vigilance and preparedness among the populace to mitigate the potential impacts of both the heatwave and wildfire threats.
The extreme heat has raised alarm bells across the country, prompting a category four wildfire warning in several regions. In total, Greece reported 41 wildfires broke out on Monday, with 34 contained and 7 still active by Monday evening. The areas of Attica, the Peloponnese, central Greece, Thessaly, and western Greece received dire warnings, as weather forecasts predict that the unrelenting heat will persist into Wednesday.
To mitigate the risks posed by the extreme heat, Greece's labor ministry has mandated a five-hour work stoppage for outdoor workers in regions facing the worst conditions. The national heatwave echoed distressing events earlier this summer, as similar unprecedented temperatures resulted in closures at the Acropolis last June and July.
This alarming weather pattern aligns with the ongoing crisis across southern and western Europe, where wildfires have wreaked havoc in different countries, including France and Spain's Catalonia region. Evacuations continue as more than 1,000 firefighters combat a blaze near Narbonne, and over 2,000 people remain under lockdown in Catalonia due to a persistent wildfire.
The recent spate of extreme heat across Europe, according to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is increasingly tied to climate change. The body has warned that such heatwaves, marked by increasingly fierce and frequent weather anomalies, are set to become the new normal if global temperatures continue to rise.
As Greece navigates this dire situation, officials continue to urge vigilance and preparedness among the populace to mitigate the potential impacts of both the heatwave and wildfire threats.
