The
Acropolis Hill, home to the Parthenon temple that is visited by
millions of tourists every year, will be closed from noon to 5
p.m. (0900 GMT-1400 GMT) on Friday, authorities said.
Greece’s meteorological service forecast temperatures peaking at
41 Celsius (105.8 Fahrenheit) in Athens by midday, but the
mercury on the Acropolis Hill that overlooks the Greek capital
is usually higher due to its altitude and lack of shade.
Hellenic Red Cross workers handed out bottles of water to
tourists forming long queues, and fanning themselves under the
shade of olive trees before the Acropolis entrance, before the
famed monument was temporarily closed.
Southern Europe is sweltering under a fierce heatwave, with a
warning that temperatures could hit record highs for the
continent next week, raising fears about the impact on human
health, crops and animals.
(Reporting by Deborah Kyvrikosaios and Angeliki Koutantou)
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