The Acropolis in Athens will temporarily close on Tuesday due to the extreme heat gripping Greece. The ancient citadel, which houses numerous historical Greek ruins, will be off-limits from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time, as announced by the culture ministry.
Severe weather and wildfire risks
Forecasts predict temperatures rising to 42°C (107°F) in various regions of Greece, alongside a category four wildfire warning indicating a very high risk across several areas. This alarming weather pattern follows reports of wildfires in other European countries, including France and the Catalonia region of Spain, which have also been affected by a devastating early summer heatwave.
The decision to alter the Acropolis’ opening hours was made on Monday after a surge of extreme heat returned to the country on Sunday. The closure on Tuesday, when temperatures in Athens are expected to reach around 38°C, is not unprecedented; the site has previously closed during heatwaves in June and July of last year.
Officials emphasized the closure was necessary for “the safety of workers and visitors” at the popular tourist destination, which attracts millions annually—4.5 million visitors are expected in 2024 alone. In addition, the labour ministry has mandated a five-hour work stoppage for outdoor manual workers in areas experiencing the most severe heat between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM on Tuesday.
Continued heatwave and fire alerts
The ongoing heatwave is anticipated to persist into Wednesday, with temperatures reaching a peak of 41°C and a category five wildfire warning—indicating an extreme risk—issued for four regions: Attica, central Greece, the Peloponnese, and Thessaly. Other areas have been assigned a category four warning.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant, with emergency services prepared for any incidents. Reports indicate that 41 wildfires broke out across Greece on Monday, with 34 contained early in the day, while seven continued to pose threats into the evening.
In Spain, more than 18,000 residents in Catalonia were instructed to remain indoors as a wildfire raged in Tarragona, prompting the deployment of Spain’s emergency military unit along with 300 firefighters to combat the flames, which have already consumed nearly 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres).
Furthermore, Marseille Provence airport in France announced its closure on Tuesday due to a nearby wildfire spreading quickly, while efforts to extinguish a separate blaze near Narbonne have involved over 1,000 firefighters and led to evacuations of local residents.
The early summer heatwave has led to numerous evacuations, destruction to homes and businesses, and a significant strain on emergency services across much of Western and Southern Europe. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that such heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent as a result of human-induced climate change, with expectations of even hotter and more intense weather events in the future.