Southern Europe is witnessing “hellishly hot” heat wave, causing disruptions and raising concerns across the region. On Wednesday, the Acropolis in Greece was closed for five hours from 12 p.m. local time due to the extreme heat, that forced tourists to visit the Parthenon early in the morning. According to report, the Red Cross provided chilled bottled water and information fliers to those waiting in line.
“We got it done and got out quick, and now we’re going to some air conditions and some more libation and enjoy the day,” told Toby Dunlap, a tourist from Pennsylvania to CNN. “But it’s hot up there, it really is. If you don’t come prepared, you’re going to sweat,” added Dunlap.
The heat wave, driven by hot air blowing in from Africa, is forecast to continue through Sunday, with temperatures expected to peak at 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit).
In Italy, two firefighters died while battling a blaze in the Basilicata region, informed authorities adding Palermo, Sicily, to the list of 13 cities with severe heat warnings. In Verona, elderly residents were urged to stay indoors, and sprinklers were set up to cool passersby.
Rome’s zoo plans to offer popsicles to animals later this week as temperatures are expected to exceed 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit).
“It really feels like we are in an oven with a hair dryer pointed at us,” said Patrizia Valerio to CNN. Fellow concert-goer Mattia Rossi pointed to recent freak storms as evidence of climate change affecting the southern Mediterranean. “These are all symptoms of a planet that is suffering in my opinion,” Rossi said.
Heat warnings are also in place across the Balkans. In Croatia, authorities reported record-high temperatures for the Adriatic Sea, with the thermometer reaching nearly 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) near Dubrovnik. In Serbia, the state power company reported record consumption due to air conditioning use.
In Albania, the government rescheduled working hours for civil servants, allowing some to work from home. North Macedonia struggled with dozens of wildfires, including one major blaze spanning nearly 30 kilometers (21 miles). Firefighting aircraft from Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Romania, and Turkey have been deployed to assist.
The heat wave has so far spared Paris, which is set to host the Olympics later this month. Temperatures in the French capital were a comparatively cool 22 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, though they are expected to rise later in the week before falling again after the weekend.
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