A severe weather alert has been issued for a popular holiday spot in Greece. It comes as Europe has been swept by a series of heatwaves with temperatures soaring past 40C in countries including Greece, Spain, Portugal, and France. The hot weather has led to authorities issuing a weather warning for the area of Attica as temperatures are expected to continue to rise.
The Attica region is home to around 3.9 million residents and draws around 8.8 million tourists every year. It encompasses the entire Athens area, making it home to some of Greece’s most significant museums and archaeological sites. July to August marks the region’s peak summer months, and therefore, authorities are warning people to stay safe during the scorching weather conditions.
The warning reads: “Extremely high air temperature values (during the day), expected to range between 41 and 43 degrees Celsius. BE PREPARED that high temperatures will lead to health risks.”
The Labour Ministry has also ordered mandatory work breaks between 12pm and 5pm on Monday. The breaks are for those involved in outdoor manual labour and food delivery services, primarily in Central Greece and on several islands.
Additionally, employees were advised to offer staff members remote work options during the heatwaves. It comes as the hot spell throughout the country is expected to continue until Thursday.
Greek authorities say they are taking long-term measures to tackle the impacts of climate change, as the country has been victim to a number of wildfires over the past years.
It was just a few days ago that the popular island of Crete suffered from a huge wildfire, which saw 5,000 tourists evacuated. On Friday, high temperatures and strong winds also caused flames to break out near Athens.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, which issues travel advice for UK holidaymakers has updated their travel advice page for Greece warning British nationals about the wildfires.
It reads: “There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location.
Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly.”
The governmental body adds that people should “be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires”.
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