Temperatures To Soar In Greece As Fires Still Burn

Greece is bracing for more intense heat this weekend, with meteorologists warning that temperatures could climb as high as 45C (113F).

People have been advised to stay home, and tourist sites – including Athens’ ancient Acropolis – will be shut during the hottest parts of the next two days.

It could turn into Greece’s hottest July weekend in 50 years, one of the country’s top meteorologists says.

Meanwhile, firefighters are continuing to battle dozens of wildfires.

Emergencies and civil protection officials are warning of a very high risk of new blazes across the country.

Western Attica – just west of Athens – is among the worst-hit areas, along with Laconia in the southern Peloponnese and the island of Rhodes.

Greece’s EU partners have provided help, including firefighting planes from France and Italy and more than 200 firefighters from Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. Neighbouring Turkey is also sending some aircraft to help.

Greece – like a number of other European countries – saw a prolonged spell of extreme heat earlier this month.

The latest heatwave comes at one of the busiest times for the country’s tourism industry.