First Amendment:
In the face of the heat wave that has hit Greece since Thursday, authorities have decreed the closure of archaeological sites in the open air. The exceptionally high temperatures are reminiscent of the heat wave in July 1987, which struck Athens more than anything else, leaving more than a thousand dead.
By Begonia Castella, from Athens.
The worst heat wave in Greece since 1987 continued, with temperatures exceeding 44 degrees in the center of the country. Temperatures on most islands range between 21 and 43 degrees, and the Greek Meteorological Service announced it will hit 46 degrees this Tuesday, highlighting the risk of forest fires.
The most important fires were recorded in large areas of the island of Rhodes where firefighters have been fighting an active fire since Sunday, as well as in Messinia in central Greece and in Evros near the border with Turkey in the north of the country, but they are all controlled and no casualties have been recorded.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a call yesterday to try to reduce the very high electricity consumption, due to these high temperatures, as well as the many tourists vacationing in the country.
The Acropolis of Athens closed its doors on Monday between 12:00 and 17:00, but starting Tuesday, tourists will find the doors closed every afternoon – until Friday – to all of Greece’s outdoor archaeological sites, the culture ministry announced.
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