STORY: Greece closed more ancient tourist sites in Athens on Thursday (June 13)…
Elderly people were evacuated to designated air-conditioned areas.
The first heatwave of the summer continued into its third day.
The famous Acropolis and its surrounding attractions were closed for the afternoon…
Winds from North Africa raised temperatures to nearly 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius).
Although the heat was expected to ease on Saturday, many primary schools and nurseries across the country were also closed to protect students.
In Athens, tourists stopped at water fountains to cool their heads and necks.
Local residents like George Georgiossis sat in air-conditioned rooms set up by the city.
“I’ve never seen temperatures like this in June before. I’ve been swimming in the winter for 21 years. I’ve swam in the snow. I’ve never seen a summer like this.”
Firefighters, who extinguished several wildfires on Wednesday (June 12), remained on high alert as strong winds were expected to batter several parts of the country.
Athens Deputy Mayor Olga Doulou said police were patrolling the city with drones.
“Climate change is becoming a reality. Scientists have been warning us about it for years, but unfortunately we have not been successful in determining what can be done on a global scale. Athens City Hall has been working to plant thousands of trees.”
Greece is one of the European countries most affected by global warming.
Rising temperatures have led to deadly fires and erratic rains in recent years.
Scientists have warned that by 2050, summer temperatures in the region could rise by an average of 2 degrees Celsius (35.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
