Extreme heat forces closure of touristic sites in Athens

ATHENS

The Greek Culture Ministry on Tuesday announced the temporary closure of major tourist sites in Athens through Friday because of extreme heat.

The Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Aristotle’s Lyceum, the Roman Agora, the Ancient Agora, and Hadrian’s Library will be closed to the public.

And a Labor Ministry Emergency extended health and safety measures Tuesday for employees with special conditions and workers carrying out outdoor manual labor, including construction and agricultural workers, and food delivery.

The measure, which bans workers from carrying out work from 11 am to 6 pm, will be enforced in most parts of the country, it noted.

The National Meteorological Service (EMY) updated an emergency bulletin, forecasting that Thursday and Friday will bring the highest temperatures.

The mercury will be as high as 42 °C (107 °F) in Athens and the northern port city of Thessaloniki, and 43 °C in the weston Friday.​​​​​​​