The Acropolis, Greece’s most popular tourist site, was closed to the public during the hottest hours due to the season’s earliest-ever heatwave, which led to school closures and health warnings.
The culture ministry announced that the Unesco-listed archaeological site in Athens would be closed from midday to 5pm (09:00 to 14:00 GMT), as temperatures were expected to reach 43°C (109°F) .
Greece’s first heatwave of the year, which often experiences scorching summer temperatures, is set to peak over these two days. The ministry indicated that the closure could be extended.
Meteorologists noted that this is the earliest heatwave in recorded history for Greece, defined as temperatures exceeding 38°C for at least three days.
“In the 20th century, we never had a heatwave before June 19. We have had several in the 21st century, but none before June 15,” said the state TV meteorologist Panos Giannopoulos.
The climate crisis and civil protection ministry has warned of a very high risk of fires in the Attica region around Athens.
