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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Brits warned not to travel to holiday hotspot as world-famous tourist attraction is closed
Holidaymakers travelling to Greece this summer have been warned to brace themselves for extreme heat. Though the popular hotspot sees millions of UK tourists visiting each year for sea, sand and sun, temperatures are expected to be higher than usual over the coming weeks. Good Morning Britain travel expert, Simon Calder, shared on an X post on Sunday that extreme heat in the capital, Athens, had lead to the temporary closure of a world-famous tourist attraction. He wrote: 'Extreme heat in Greece: Acropolis in Athens closing in five minutes, at 12 noon local time, until 5pm "due to high temperatures for the safety of employees and visitors".' The Met Office reported the capital experienced highs of 37C on Sunday, is expected to sees similar temperatures today, and will sit between 32C and 35C for the remainder of the week. Last week, the mercury hit a blistering 44C high in Athens, while a wildfire ripped though a northern suburb of the capital on Saturday. Shocking pictures show homes ablaze while residents of the town of Kryoneri, 12.5miles northeast of Athens, received three SMS warnings to evacuate. Some 145 firefighters, 44 fire engines, ten firefighting planes and seven helicopters remain on site, with Greece asking for six more such planes from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. A man drinks water to cool down as thousands of tourists wear hats and carry umbrellas for protection as they visit the Acropolis during the worst heatwave of the season Fire Service spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakoyannis said 'the real difficulties are ahead of us', as the hot, dry, windy conditions 'are expected to prevail over the coming days.' The high temperatures in Greece last week forced the iconic Acropolis to close for five hours from midday on Tuesday and Wednesday. In addition, strict new rules were implemented to protect workers from the heat. Couriers, food delivery riders and builders in the wider area of Athens and other regions were among those ordered to pause work from midday until 5pm.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Crete issues urgent warning for TODAY in Brit holiday hotspot
Brits in the popular holiday location of Crete, Greece, have been warned of a "very high risk" of wildfires today with emergency services mobilised and a list of banned activities Brit holidaymakers have been warned that there is a 'very high risk' of fires in Crete today with emergency services mobilised. Greece has been grappling with massive wildfires following a week-long heatwave that saw temperatures skyrocket above 45C, leading to thousands being forced to abandon their homes as flames engulfed villages near Athens and several Greek islands. Now a map has been issued by the General Secretariat of Civil Protection showing the areas of Greece which are most at danger. And Crete has been marked in orange which is category four and means that there is a forecast of a very high risk of fire. Under this category it means that a special civil protection mechanism has been put in place while there is a list of banned activities. The action plan means that all resources will be diverted to tackling the risk and there is a list of six banned actions. the burning and use of fire on crop residues, grasslands or other of smoking in beehives the performance of hot work (welding, cutting wheel, etc.) the use of outdoor barbecues the use of "Sky Lanterns" (airborne flying lanterns or balloons) the use of pyrotechnics Meanwhile, a significant fire ripped through a northern suburb of the Greek capital on Saturday, triggering urgent evacuation orders, as confirmed by the country's Fire Service. Residents in Kryoneri, situated about 12 miles northeast of Athens, received three SMS alerts urging them to relocate to safer areas, while the nearby village of Drosopigi was shrouded in smoke as explosions reverberated from factories storing combustible materials. Helicopters were dispatched to douse the area with water as a team of 65 firefighters, supported by 26 vehicles and two aircraft, battled the blaze. A spokesperson for the fire department revealed that at least 52 wildfires had erupted across the nation in the past 24 hours, with strong winds exacerbating the situation and necessitating further evacuations. On Evia, a force of 115 firefighters and 24 vehicles, aided by six aircraft and seven helicopters, strived to get the fires under control. Residents in the Triada region were put on alert for potential evacuation as wind conditions deteriorated. While the villages of Aroniadika, Pitsinades and Aryoi on the island of Kythera were evacuated, alongside Kryoneri and Sellas in Messinia, to the west of Athens. Areas in Crete affected by fires Azilakodasos, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos Vathi, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos Thriptis, Municipality of Ierapetra Kalo Chorio, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos – Meseleri, Municipality of Ierapetra Selakano, Municipality of Ierapetra Cypress forest of Kritsa, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos Krousta Forest, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos. Symi, Municipality of Viannos Rouva-Zaros, Municipality of Gortyna and Municipality of Phaistos Koudouma, Municipality of Gortyna Keris, Municipality of Malevizi, Fourni, Municipality of Archanes – Asterousia Yuuchta, Municipality of Archanes – Asterousia Reconstruction, Municipality of Archanes – Asterousia Evligia suburban forest Suburban forest of Prof. Elias Agios Ioannis suburban forest Reforestation area south of the Arkadi Monastery Alsilio area of Paradisos Armenoi Mills Gorge Kissos suburban forest Periurban forest of Agouseliana Periurban forest of Agios Ioannis
India Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- India Today
'Total destruction' as Greece battles wildfires; homes burned, thousands evacuated
An aggressive wildfire swept through the northern Athens suburb of Kryoneri on Saturday, destroying homes and forcing emergency evacuations, as Greece and much of Southern Europe grapple with a brutal third heatwave this by scorching temperatures, dry conditions, and high winds, the blaze is one of dozens erupting across the region—straining emergency resources and placing thousands at risk.A video shared by Greek journalist Evangelo Sipsas on X shows the devastating wildfires. advertisement In Kythira, a third wildfire is engulfing a large part of the island, with residents describing scenes of "total destruction", BBC news reported. "We have injured firefighters, human lives were put at risk, properties have been burned, and forest areas have been destroyed," Greece's Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Giannis Kefalogiannis least two homes were engulfed, and five residents, mostly elderly citizens, were hospitalised with burns and smoke inhalation. Flames consume a home in Kryoneri. Firefighters try to extinguish flames from a house as a wildfire burns in the village of Kryoneri. Authorities sent three emergency SMS alerts to residents in Kryoneri, located approximately 20km northeast of Athens, instructing them to evacuate immediately. Residents were directed to head toward the city centre, away from the smoke and advancing fire lines.'The real difficulties are ahead of us,' said Fire Service spokesperson Vassilios Vathrakogiannis, warning that soaring temperatures and strong winds could worsen conditions in the coming days. Greece has requested six firefighting planes from the EU's Civil Protection nearby Drosopigi village, just 25 kilometres north of Athens, explosions echoed through the smoke-filled air. The area houses factories with flammable materials, raising fears of further danger. Fire crews scrambled to contain the blaze as helicopters doused flames from above. On the ground, 145 firefighters, 44 fire engines, 10 planes, and 7 helicopters have been deployed across the wider Athens region. This is southern Europe's third heatwave this summer, with temperatures in Greece reaching 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday. The fire service said that 52 agroforestry fires have erupted in the past 24 hours, 44 of which were quickly such extreme conditions,' Vathrakogiannis said, 'wildfires expand very quickly and become dangerous.'Neighboring Albania also reported 26 fires across the country, including one that forced the evacuation of 2,000 people near the southern town of Delvina on Friday. Three people were injured in that incident. A firefighter battles the blaze near Athens. Aside from Athens, three other major wildfires are raging on the islands of Crete, Evia, and Kythera. In total, 335 firefighters, 19 planes, and 13 helicopters are operating across the nation—though air assets are limited to daylight many of them destructive, have become a common phenomenon in Greece in recent years.- EndsInputs from agencies
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Brits tourists warned as wildfires spread through popular holiday destination
A wildfire burned through a suburb of Athens today and some residents were ordered to evacuate - photos show houses on fire, damaged buildings and firefighters at the scene British tourists visiting Greece have been put on alert as new wildfires are spreading through the country, which has been battling a 44C heatwave for the past week. Today, a wildfire burned through a northern suburb of the Greek capital of Athens and some residents were ordered to evacuate, the country's Fire Service reported. Residents of the town of Kryoneri, which is located 20km (12.5 miles) northeast of Athens, received three SMS messages to evacuate to safe areas, Fire Service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakoyannis said. Photos taken in the area show houses on fire, damaged buildings and firefighters trying to contain the blazes. Mr Vathrakoyannis said "there have been reports of damages." He added: "We will take stock when the fires have been put out." "The real difficulties are ahead of us," Mr Vathrakoyannis said, adding that Greece has asked for six firefighting planes from the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism. On site, 145 firefighters and 44 fire engines, 10 firefighting planes and seven helicopters are attempting to put out the fire, whose origin is unknown. Four ambulances are treating at least five residents, most of them elderly with respiratory problems. Temperatures reaching, or exceeding, 38C, dry conditions and high winds are fanning the flames. On Saturday, highs of 44C were recorded. Under such conditions wildfires "expand very quickly and become dangerous," Mr Vathrakoyannis said, adding: "These conditions are expected to prevail over the coming days." The fire service is also dealing with three other major fires in the southwest on Greece's two largest islands- Crete in the south and Evia north of Athens - and also on the island of Kythera, northwest of Crete. At least 335 firefighters, 19 planes and 13 helicopters are involved, but can only operate in daylight. In total, 52 wildfires broke out across the country over the past 24 hours, the spokesman said. Wildfires, many of them destructive, have become a common occurrence in Greece in recent years. Several have broken out in the past month. At the beginning of July, hotels and homes on the island of Crete were evacuated due to wildfires. It comes just days after wildfires spread across Cyprus, ravaging 100 square kilometres (38.6 square miles) of forested hillsides, destroying several homes and leading to the evacuation of a dozen villages on the southern side of the island nation's Troodos mountain range. The range covers about a third of Cyprus and is where dozens of small villages and resorts are located. Earlier this week, two bodies were discovered in burnt-out cars, police said. The island nation is on high alert for fires this summer following three consecutive dry winters.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Climate
- Hans India
Greece requests EU assistance as wildfires rage across country
Athens: Greece requested assistance from the European Union (EU) Civil Protection Mechanism to combat multiple wildfires raging across the country, according to local broadcaster Mega Channel. The request includes six water-dropping aircraft to help battle five to six major wildfire fronts burning simultaneously in various regions of the eastern Mediterranean nation. The EU mechanism has reportedly approved the request, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Mega Channel. The most concerning blaze erupted early Saturday afternoon near Kryoneri, a village north of Athens at the foothills of Mt. Parnitha. A firefighting force of 145 personnel, supported by 44 vehicles, as well as numerous volunteers and municipal water tankers, was deployed to the area. At least 17 firefighting aircraft operated until nightfall, according to Greek news outlet To Vima. Wildfires were also reported earlier Saturday on the Aegean island of Kythira, in Messinia prefecture in the southern Peloponnese, in the central part of Evia Island, at the Temenia site in Chania prefecture on Crete, and later in the Molaous district of Laconia in southeastern Greece. Authorities said the fire north of Athens appeared particularly threatening by dusk. The same area has experienced major wildfires in the past, most recently in August 2021. Earlier this month, firefighters in Greece were battling more than 50 wildfires across the country, as authorities warned of heightened danger due to an intensifying heatwave and strong winds. Evacuation alerts were issued in several locations as precautionary measures, the Fire Service said. No casualties have been reported, despite more than 1,000 wildfires recorded since the start of June, according to Costas Tsigkas, head of the Association of Greek Firefighter Officers. Speaking to state broadcaster ERT, Tsigkas urged the public to exercise caution as soaring temperatures and high winds significantly raise the risk of fires spreading rapidly. Since the beginning of the official fire season on May 1, more than 190 individuals have been arrested in connection with wildfires, including 125 for negligence, such as burning vegetation or using machinery that can emit sparks, the Fire Service said.
