Greece orders 12pm to 5pm shut down as temperatures break 40C
The rule covers several areas in central Greece and some islands
A man refreshes with water in Athens, Greece
Authorities in Greece have imposed mandatory work breaks on Monday in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40C, with the heatwave forecast to last until Thursday. The Labour Ministry ordered the work stoppage, from midday to 5pm, for outdoor manual labour and food delivery services, primarily in central Greece and on several islands.
Employers were also asked to offer remote work options. No emergency measures were implemented in Athens, and the current hot spell — following sweltering temperatures across Europe — is not considered unusual.
Greek authorities say they are taking long-term steps to address the effects of climate change, including the deployment this summer of a record number of firefighters.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
7 hours ago
- Reuters
Greece shuts Acropolis for part of day as heat soars, bans outdoor work
ATHENS, July 8 (Reuters) - Greece shut the Acropolis for several hours in the afternoon on Tuesday, as the Mediterranean country baked in its second major heatwave of the season, with temperatures set to soar as high as 41 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Last week, large parts of Western Europe sweltered in a severe heatwave that left 8 dead and triggered forest fires and health alerts across the region. In Athens, temperatures were expected to reach 38 C, forcing authorities to close the Acropolis, its most visited ancient site, on a rocky hill offering barely any shade, at midday from 1000 GMT until 1400 GMT. Defying the heat, some tourists visited the monument before it shut. "It's extremely hot. So yeah, we had to take extra measures. We have little fans for the children. I have the hat, the glasses. We've been drinking lots of water," said John Howell, 58, a Scottish tourist. With hot air and humidity worsening conditions, authorities ordered some businesses in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, and other areas on the mainland and southern Peloponnese peninsula, to limit outdoor work for employees in the afternoon. Builders, food delivery riders, couriers and shipyards workers are among those having to pause work from midday until 5 p.m. to avoid heat stress, the labour ministry said. The heatwave conditions will continue until Wednesday, the Greek meteorological service said, and authorities in the wider Athens and other areas will be on alert for wildfires as gale-force winds were expected. Worldwide, 2024 was the warmest year on record, with global temperatures exceeding 1.5 Celsius above the pre-industrial era for the first time. Greece, which sits on Europe's southernmost edge, also had its warmest winter and summer last year on record, incuding a 16-day heatwave in July, the longest ever, according to scientists.
The Independent
12 hours ago
- The Independent
Access to Greek icon restricted as temperatures soar
Greece 's Acropolis in Athens is to temporarily close during peak afternoon hours due to extreme heat. The closure, from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm, aims to protect visitors and workers from temperatures expected to reach 42C across the country. The Labour Ministry has mandated work breaks for outdoor manual labour and food delivery services in areas where temperatures exceed 40C. Employers have also been advised to offer remote work options where possible. The heatwave is forecast to continue until Thursday.
The Independent
14 hours ago
- The Independent
Greece closes top tourist attraction as heatwave scorches country
The Acropolis in Athens to close temporarily due to heatwave, Greek officials have said. Greece's culture ministry on Tuesday ordered a partial closure of the Acropolis, the country's top monument, to protect visitors amid heatwave conditions. Temperatures in the country are expected to reach 42 Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, with a maximum of 38 Celsius in Athens The ministry in a statement said the site would be closed from 1:00 to 5:00 pm (1000 to 1400 GMT) "for the safety of workers and visitors, owing to high temperatures." The news comes after authorities in Greece imposed mandatory work breaks in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40C, with the heatwave forecast to last until Thursday. The Labour Ministry ordered the work stoppage, from midday to 5pm, for outdoor manual labour and food delivery services, primarily in central Greece and on several islands. Employers were also asked to offer remote work options. No emergency measures were implemented in Athens, and the current hot spell - following sweltering temperatures across Europe - is not considered unusual. Greek authorities say they are taking long-term steps to address the effects of climate change, including the deployment this summer of a record number of firefighters.
