Latest news with #Acropolis
France 24
2 hours ago
- Climate
- France 24
Greece mulls water-saving moves as heatwave intensifies
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the cabinet had discussed plans to make water companies more "viable", noting that reserves in Athens were down 50 percent compared to three years ago. There will be additional use of desalination technology and water reuse, the premier's office said, adding that Greece globally ranked 19th in terms of drought risk. The National Observatory of Athens recently warned that, following high temperatures and low rainfall in June, almost all of Greece displayed above-normal drought levels for this time of year. Temperatures continued to rise Wednesday in a heatwave expected to last until Sunday. Between 40C and 44C are expected on Wednesday in the eastern, central, and northern inland regions, as well as on the islands of the eastern Aegean Sea, according to the website of the Athens National Observatory. In Athens, the heat reached 36.3C around 1:30 pm (1030 GMT). It is expected to rise to 42C on Thursday according to To protect visitors and guards, Greek authorities have closed the Acropolis in Athens during the hottest hours of the day, between 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm, until Friday. 'The asphalt is boiling' The Greek government has also banned outdoor work in several sectors during the hottest hours to minimise health risks. "It's inhumane to work in such conditions. The asphalt is boiling," Panagiotis Arvanitidis, 35, a member of the food delivery workers' union in the Thessaloniki region (north), told AFP. "The ambient temperature in my home over the past two days has exceeded 30C," said 50-year-old medical saleswoman Anna Spania. "Without air conditioning, survival is impossible!" she added. The heatwave's highest temperatures so far were recorded on Tuesday at Tragana, central Greece, at 44.9C, according to
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- Climate
- The Advertiser
Five dead in Italy as heat paralyses parts of Europe
Five deaths have been reported in Italy as extreme heat continues to affect parts of southern Europe. The Italian authorities said the deaths in the southern Apulia region were likely be related to the recent high temperatures. By 10am on Wednesday, temperatures had exceeded 30C in Sicily while further south, Turkey and Greece were also sweltering with Istanbul reaching 36C and the Greek island of Lesbos 38C. In Athens, the Acropolis and other popular ancient sites were to be closed during the midday hours. Delivery service employees, construction workers and agricultural workers have also been instructed to stop work. Greek law requires such measures for outdoor work when temperatures climb above 40C as is forecast on Wednesday and in the coming days. Doctors warned that elderly people and small children should not spend time outdoors and advised people to drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. A high-pressure area from Africa, which meteorologists have named Kamel, is expected to bring temperatures of up to 45C to southern Italy. Turkey is also groaning under the heat. On Tuesday, temperatures of over 40C were recorded in six of the country's 81 provinces, and temperatures are expected to climb even higher on Wednesday. The heat is compounded by drought, which allows forest fires to spread more quickly. The emergency services are currently battling three active fires. Five deaths have been reported in Italy as extreme heat continues to affect parts of southern Europe. The Italian authorities said the deaths in the southern Apulia region were likely be related to the recent high temperatures. By 10am on Wednesday, temperatures had exceeded 30C in Sicily while further south, Turkey and Greece were also sweltering with Istanbul reaching 36C and the Greek island of Lesbos 38C. In Athens, the Acropolis and other popular ancient sites were to be closed during the midday hours. Delivery service employees, construction workers and agricultural workers have also been instructed to stop work. Greek law requires such measures for outdoor work when temperatures climb above 40C as is forecast on Wednesday and in the coming days. Doctors warned that elderly people and small children should not spend time outdoors and advised people to drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. A high-pressure area from Africa, which meteorologists have named Kamel, is expected to bring temperatures of up to 45C to southern Italy. Turkey is also groaning under the heat. On Tuesday, temperatures of over 40C were recorded in six of the country's 81 provinces, and temperatures are expected to climb even higher on Wednesday. The heat is compounded by drought, which allows forest fires to spread more quickly. The emergency services are currently battling three active fires. Five deaths have been reported in Italy as extreme heat continues to affect parts of southern Europe. The Italian authorities said the deaths in the southern Apulia region were likely be related to the recent high temperatures. By 10am on Wednesday, temperatures had exceeded 30C in Sicily while further south, Turkey and Greece were also sweltering with Istanbul reaching 36C and the Greek island of Lesbos 38C. In Athens, the Acropolis and other popular ancient sites were to be closed during the midday hours. Delivery service employees, construction workers and agricultural workers have also been instructed to stop work. Greek law requires such measures for outdoor work when temperatures climb above 40C as is forecast on Wednesday and in the coming days. Doctors warned that elderly people and small children should not spend time outdoors and advised people to drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. A high-pressure area from Africa, which meteorologists have named Kamel, is expected to bring temperatures of up to 45C to southern Italy. Turkey is also groaning under the heat. On Tuesday, temperatures of over 40C were recorded in six of the country's 81 provinces, and temperatures are expected to climb even higher on Wednesday. The heat is compounded by drought, which allows forest fires to spread more quickly. The emergency services are currently battling three active fires. Five deaths have been reported in Italy as extreme heat continues to affect parts of southern Europe. The Italian authorities said the deaths in the southern Apulia region were likely be related to the recent high temperatures. By 10am on Wednesday, temperatures had exceeded 30C in Sicily while further south, Turkey and Greece were also sweltering with Istanbul reaching 36C and the Greek island of Lesbos 38C. In Athens, the Acropolis and other popular ancient sites were to be closed during the midday hours. Delivery service employees, construction workers and agricultural workers have also been instructed to stop work. Greek law requires such measures for outdoor work when temperatures climb above 40C as is forecast on Wednesday and in the coming days. Doctors warned that elderly people and small children should not spend time outdoors and advised people to drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. A high-pressure area from Africa, which meteorologists have named Kamel, is expected to bring temperatures of up to 45C to southern Italy. Turkey is also groaning under the heat. On Tuesday, temperatures of over 40C were recorded in six of the country's 81 provinces, and temperatures are expected to climb even higher on Wednesday. The heat is compounded by drought, which allows forest fires to spread more quickly. The emergency services are currently battling three active fires.
Al Etihad
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Al Etihad
Five deaths in Italy as heatwave paralyses parts of southern Europe
23 July 2025 15:03 ATHENS/ROME/ISTANBUL (dpa)Five deaths have been reported in Italy as extreme heat continues to affect parts of southern 10 am (0800 GMT) on Wednesday, temperatures had already exceeded 30 degrees Celsius in and Greece were also experiencing high temperatures, with the Turkiye capital city of Istanbul reaching 36 degrees Celsius and the Greek island of Lesbos 38 degrees Celsius at the same Athens, the Acropolis and other popular ancient sites were to be closed during the midday hours. Delivery service employees, construction workers and agricultural workers have also been instructed to stop law requires such measures for outdoor work when temperatures climb above 40 degrees Celsius, as is expected on Wednesday and in the coming have warned that elderly people and young children in particular should not spend time outdoors, that people should drink plenty of Italian authorities said there have been at least five deaths in the southern Apulia region alone in the last few days that could be related to the high temperatures. In Palermo, the capital of Sicily, the highest heat alert level is in effect. Heat warnings are also in place in more than a dozen other cities.A high-pressure area from Africa, which meteorologists have named Kamel, is expected to bring temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius to the south of is also groaning under the heat. On Tuesday, temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius were recorded in six of the country's 81 provinces, and temperatures are expected to climb even higher on Wednesday. The heat is compounded by drought, which allows forest fires to spread more quickly. The emergency services are currently battling three active fires.
West Australian
3 hours ago
- Climate
- West Australian
Five dead in Italy as heat paralyses parts of Europe
Five deaths have been reported in Italy as extreme heat continues to affect parts of southern Europe. The Italian authorities said the deaths in the southern Apulia region were likely be related to the recent high temperatures. By 10am on Wednesday, temperatures had exceeded 30C in Sicily while further south, Turkey and Greece were also sweltering with Istanbul reaching 36C and the Greek island of Lesbos 38C. In Athens, the Acropolis and other popular ancient sites were to be closed during the midday hours. Delivery service employees, construction workers and agricultural workers have also been instructed to stop work. Greek law requires such measures for outdoor work when temperatures climb above 40C as is forecast on Wednesday and in the coming days. Doctors warned that elderly people and small children should not spend time outdoors and advised people to drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. A high-pressure area from Africa, which meteorologists have named Kamel, is expected to bring temperatures of up to 45C to southern Italy. Turkey is also groaning under the heat. On Tuesday, temperatures of over 40C were recorded in six of the country's 81 provinces, and temperatures are expected to climb even higher on Wednesday. The heat is compounded by drought, which allows forest fires to spread more quickly. The emergency services are currently battling three active fires.
France 24
a day ago
- Climate
- France 24
Heat forces new Acropolis closure amid fiery temperatures
Temperatures were predicted to rise above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) along the Turkish coast and in North Macedonia, where authorities urged people to stay at home as much as possible. Greek weather experts said the heatwave would intensify until Sunday with temperatures surpassing 43C in Greece. The thermometer hit 42.9C in the town of Sparta on Tuesday, according to the national observatory. The Acropolis, one of the world's most popular museums with up to 23,000 visitors a day, would close on Tuesday and Wednesday during the hottest hours between midday and 5.00 pm (1400 GMT), the culture ministry said. The decision was taken "for the safety of employees and visitors", the ministry said. The Acropolis, sitting on a rocky hill overlooking Athens and which has a priceless collection of artifacts, was also partly closed on July 8-9 and has seen similar measures in the past two summers because of the heat. Too hot About a dozen mostly foreign tourists were gathered around the closed gates of the landmark as the heat intensified. "It's too hot to be in Athens. The heat is slowing me down very much. And it's just very uncomfortable," said Chris, a 48-year-old American tourist, who explained that he had missed a flight to one of the Greek islands and would be stuck in the Greek capital until Thursday. "I don't want to be in Athens," he declared. Christina, a 49-year-old Italian visiting Athens with her mother and 10-year-old daughter, said her family was used to the searing heat because of conditions in her home country. "Now I think we will have lunch. We will find a restaurant with AC," she said. The Athens region could see temperatures reach 43C on Saturday, according to the weather site which warned of "the risk of negative effects on health". The labour ministry suspended outdoor work between midday and 5.00 pm in several regions as part of emergency measures to help workers cope with the heatwave. Some cities opened up air-conditioned public rooms. With scientists warning that rising temperatures would cause more frequent and more extreme heatwaves and other freak weather conditions, Greece and other Mediterranean countries have been through a growing number of ultra-hot summers. Authorities said that 2024 was the hottest summer ever recorded in Greece. In neighbouring Turkey, temperatures that are above the seasonal average are expected to last until the end of July, according to the MGM national meteorological service. Temperatures have been about 35C in Istanbul and Ankara since the weekend and in the western resort of Izmir was predicted to reach 42C on Wednesday, according to the MGM. In North Macedonia, which has been battling a number of forest fires, authorities said temperatures would only reach a peak at the end of the week. High temperatures have also been predicted for Albania, where a number of forest fires raged on Monday, and in northern Bosnia as much of the Balkans sweltered in intense heat.
