As Greece faces its latest extreme heatwave, the iconic Acropolis shuts its doors during peak hours, highlighting a growing trend of climate crisis impacts on historical sites and public safety.
**Acropolis Shuts Down Amidst Intense Heatwave in Greece**
**Acropolis Shuts Down Amidst Intense Heatwave in Greece**
Amid soaring temperatures reaching 42°C, the Acropolis in Athens temporarily closes for safety, echoing broader climate concerns across Europe.
In Greece, the Acropolis has closed its doors temporarily on Tuesday, due to an intense heatwave granting sweltering temperatures across the country. The country's culture ministry announced that the renowned ancient site will remain closed from 13:00 to 17:00 local time (11:00 to 15:00 BST), as temperatures are expected to soar to highs of 42°C (107°F) in certain regions.
Authorities have placed a category four wildfire warning—indicative of a very high risk—across various areas, with rising temperatures echoing similar distress from previous weeks in France and Spain, which also encountered wildfires amidst a brutal early summer heatwave.
The decision to adjust the Acropolis' opening hours was made after extreme heat returned late last week, following closures of the site in past months during similar weather conditions. The Athens city center anticipates a peak of 38°C, leading to safety concerns for both visitors and staff amid the record turnout aimed for 2024 at 4.5 million guests.
In conjunction with the site closure, Greece's labor ministry has instigated a mandatory five-hour halt for outdoor manual workers within the hottest regions between noon and 17:00 on Tuesday. The heatwave is predicted to last until Wednesday, with southern territories expecting continued extreme heat prior to a forecasted decline.
The Greek fire service reported 41 wildfires on Monday, with 34 quickly contained; however, active fires persisted into the evening. A Category 4 wildfire alert was issued for five critical areas: Attica, the Peloponnese, central Greece, Thessaly, and western regions, advising the public to stay alert while emergency responders remain prepared.
Simultaneously, over 1,000 firefighters are battling a wildfire in southwestern France near Narbonne, leading to local evacuations and road closures. In Catalonia, more than 2,000 residents were placed under lockdown as a wildfire continues to rage in the Tarragona province.
The ongoing heatwaves across Greece and wider Europe reinforce warnings from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, highlighting that human-induced climate change is causing increasingly frequent and intense scorching weather patterns. This trend raises critical alarms for public safety as well as the preservation of Europe’s significant historical landmarks.
