Greece closes top tourist attraction as heatwave scorches country
Greece's culture ministry on Tuesday ordered a partial closure of the Acropolis, the country's top monument, to protect visitors amid heatwave conditions. Temperatures in the country are expected to reach 42 Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, with a maximum of 38 Celsius in Athens
The ministry in a statement said the site would be closed from 1:00 to 5:00 pm (1000 to 1400 GMT) "for the safety of workers and visitors, owing to high temperatures."
The news comes after authorities in Greece imposed mandatory work breaks in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40C, with the heatwave forecast to last until Thursday.
The Labour Ministry ordered the work stoppage, from midday to 5pm, for outdoor manual labour and food delivery services, primarily in central Greece and on several islands.
Employers were also asked to offer remote work options.
No emergency measures were implemented in Athens, and the current hot spell - following sweltering temperatures across Europe - is not considered unusual.
Greek authorities say they are taking long-term steps to address the effects of climate change, including the deployment this summer of a record number of firefighters.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Summer nights are getting warmer due to climate change, sparking health concerns
When you typically think about extreme heat, a sweltering, sunny day may come first to mind. But climate scientists are also sounding the alarm on warm summer nights, saying they are quietly becoming a worrisome consequence of climate change -- and a serious public health concern. When nighttime temperatures don't drop low enough relative to peak daytime heat, it is harder for people to cool off, according to Climate Central, a nonprofit organization that analyzes and reports on climate science. Extreme heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States, with heat waves responsible for more deaths than other extreme weather events like tornadoes, flooding, or hurricanes, according to the National Weather Service. This week, more than 200 million people across the U.S. from South Dakota to Florida and up the East Coast to Boston, are on alert for widespread, dangerous heat. Extreme heat warnings have been issued for large cities from Iowa to Florida, including New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis, Omaha, Des Moines, Savannah, Raleigh, Charleston and Sioux Falls. In these areas, feels-like temperatures are forecast to soar into the triple digits during the afternoon hours, with the dangers remaining even after the sun sets. A dangerous temperature trend From 1970 to 2024, Climate Central analyzed average summer nighttime temperatures in 241 locations across the U.S. The organization found that these temperatures have warmed in nearly all locations, increasing by 3.1 degrees Fahrenheit on average. MORE: Heat indices could hit 120 as sweltering temperatures grip eastern half of US Looking to the future, warm summer nights are expected to become increasingly frequent in the coming decades, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In many regions across the country, the EPA reports nighttime temperatures are projected to remain above 70 degrees Fahrenheit more often. Health risks The most serious health impacts of a heat wave are often associated with warm overnight temperatures, the EPA warns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) echoes these warnings, saying if the air stays too warm at night, the body faces extra strain trying to regulate body temperature. Without this crucial drop in temperature, vulnerable populations -- including elderly people, children, and those with pre-existing conditions -- face heightened health risks, according to the agency. MORE: Heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion: Safety tips as dangerous temperatures hit US Prolonged exposure to high heat in the evenings has been linked to poorer sleep quality, which can impair immune function, exacerbate mental health issues, and increase the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, according to the CDC. While extreme heat and triple-digit temperatures frequently are the focus of attention and grab headlines, the lack of adequate overnight cooling is also a serious concern that amplifies the impacts of heat. Overnight cooling is essential for not just the human body, but infrastructure and ecosystems to recover after a hot day. Cities feel heightened temperatures Warmer overnight temperatures are also fueled by urban development. Cities with heat-retaining concrete and asphalt are particularly vulnerable to higher temperatures when vegetation is lost to more paved surfaces and buildings, according to the EPA. Compared with surrounding rural areas, urban locations have higher overall temperatures, especially at night. This is known as the "urban heat island" effect. Rising concentrations of greenhouse gases and increased atmospheric moisture are major contributors to the ongoing rise in nighttime temperatures seen in recent decades. As the atmosphere warms, it can hold more water vapor, which functions like an insulating layer, trapping heat and significantly limiting the amount of cooling that can occur at night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Flash floods in Romania kill at least 3 people and force hundreds of evacuations
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Torrential rainstorms hit Romania overnight and into Monday, triggering flash floods in the country's northeast and killing at least three people, officials said. Hundreds were forced to leave their homes as Romania's rescue services deployed in the hard-hit counties of Neamt and Suceava. Helicopters and firefighters rescued residents, some of whom were trapped in their homes by floodwaters. Authorities said that 890 people were evacuated from Neamt. First responders found a 66-year-old man dead at the bottom of a stream in the town of Neagra, according to the Department for Emergency Situations. Two women who had been reported missing were also later found dead. Authorities also released images showing raging muddy floodwaters strewn with battered vehicles and other debris, as well as damaged homes. The Associated Press Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Summer nights are getting warmer due to climate change, sparking health concerns
When you typically think about extreme heat, a sweltering, sunny day may come first to mind. But climate scientists are also sounding the alarm on warm summer nights, saying they are quietly becoming a worrisome consequence of climate change -- and a serious public health concern. When nighttime temperatures don't drop low enough relative to peak daytime heat, it is harder for people to cool off, according to Climate Central, a nonprofit organization that analyzes and reports on climate science. Extreme heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States, with heat waves responsible for more deaths than other extreme weather events like tornadoes, flooding, or hurricanes, according to the National Weather Service. This week, more than 200 million people across the U.S. from South Dakota to Florida and up the East Coast to Boston, are on alert for widespread, dangerous heat. Extreme heat warnings have been issued for large cities from Iowa to Florida, including New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis, Omaha, Des Moines, Savannah, Raleigh, Charleston and Sioux Falls. In these areas, feels-like temperatures are forecast to soar into the triple digits during the afternoon hours, with the dangers remaining even after the sun sets. A dangerous temperature trend From 1970 to 2024, Climate Central analyzed average summer nighttime temperatures in 241 locations across the U.S. The organization found that these temperatures have warmed in nearly all locations, increasing by 3.1 degrees Fahrenheit on average. MORE: Heat indices could hit 120 as sweltering temperatures grip eastern half of US Looking to the future, warm summer nights are expected to become increasingly frequent in the coming decades, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In many regions across the country, the EPA reports nighttime temperatures are projected to remain above 70 degrees Fahrenheit more often. Health risks The most serious health impacts of a heat wave are often associated with warm overnight temperatures, the EPA warns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) echoes these warnings, saying if the air stays too warm at night, the body faces extra strain trying to regulate body temperature. Without this crucial drop in temperature, vulnerable populations -- including elderly people, children, and those with pre-existing conditions -- face heightened health risks, according to the agency. MORE: Heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion: Safety tips as dangerous temperatures hit US Prolonged exposure to high heat in the evenings has been linked to poorer sleep quality, which can impair immune function, exacerbate mental health issues, and increase the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, according to the CDC. While extreme heat and triple-digit temperatures frequently are the focus of attention and grab headlines, the lack of adequate overnight cooling is also a serious concern that amplifies the impacts of heat. Overnight cooling is essential for not just the human body, but infrastructure and ecosystems to recover after a hot day. Cities feel heightened temperatures Warmer overnight temperatures are also fueled by urban development. Cities with heat-retaining concrete and asphalt are particularly vulnerable to higher temperatures when vegetation is lost to more paved surfaces and buildings, according to the EPA. Compared with surrounding rural areas, urban locations have higher overall temperatures, especially at night. This is known as the "urban heat island" effect. Rising concentrations of greenhouse gases and increased atmospheric moisture are major contributors to the ongoing rise in nighttime temperatures seen in recent decades. As the atmosphere warms, it can hold more water vapor, which functions like an insulating layer, trapping heat and significantly limiting the amount of cooling that can occur at night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Solve the daily Crossword
