Ancient Acropolis Closes as Greece Faces Record Heatwaves and Wildfire Alerts

The Acropolis, a symbol of ancient Greek civilization, will temporarily close its doors on Tuesday as Greece grapples with soaring temperatures. The country's culture ministry announced that the historic citadel, located in Athens and home to numerous ancient ruins, will be shut from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM local time (11:00 AM to 3:00 PM BST). With forecasts predicting highs of 42°C (107°F) in parts of Greece, a category four wildfire warning indicating a high risk has also been issued across several regions. This decision to close the Acropolis follows the return of extreme heat, which has already impacted the site in previous months. Similar closures occurred in June and last July, as safety concerns for both workers and the thousands of daily visitors—estimated to total 4.5 million in 2024—have prompted authorities to take precautionary measures. The labour ministry has also enacted a mandatory five-hour work stoppage for outdoor manual workers from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Tuesday in areas expected to experience the worst of the heat. The current wave of extreme temperatures is anticipated to persist into Wednesday, with a high of 41°C expected. In response to this, the government has issued an even higher category five wildfire warning for four regions: Attica, central Greece, the Peloponnese, and Thessaly, while several other areas remain under a category four alert. Emergency services are on high alert, bolstered by a public appeal for vigilance amidst an unprecedented heatwave that has already sparked 41 wildfires across Greece in just one day. As of Monday evening, seven fires remained active while 34 had been contained. The situation is dire, as similar heat and wildfires escalate across Europe—with Spain's northeastern Catalonia province ordering 18,000 residents to stay indoors due to a raging wildfire in Tarragona. Catalonia's emergency military unit has been deployed alongside 300 firefighters, as strong winds have exacerbated the flames, which have now consumed nearly 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of land. France is similarly affected, with Marseille Provence airport closing due to a rapidly spreading wildfire. In the southwestern area near Narbonne, over 1,000 firefighters are battling another out-of-control blaze, forcing evacuations and prompting the closure of a key motorway linking France and Spain. Experts are raising alarms about the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves, which many associate with human-caused climate change, as highlighted by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The report warns that as the planet continues to warm, extreme weather events will become more common, compelling global authorities and citizens to take immediate action. In light of this situation, the public in Greece and beyond is advised to remain cautious and prepared as both heat and fire hazards escalate across the region. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2