Tourists and labourers seek respite as Greece and Balkans gripped by heatwave

ATHENS - Labourers paused outdoor work and tourists sought shade on July 22 as Greece sweltered under its third heatwave of the summer and soaring temperatures gripped the wider Balkan region, fuelling wildfires in Albania.

Situated at Europe’s southernmost tip, Greece, which attracts dozens of millions of tourists every year, has always had hot and dry summers.

But in recent years, climate change has led to longer and more severe heatwaves, as well as destructive floods and wildfires.

Mr Matthew Enos, an 18-year-old visitor from New Orleans, said he had not been prepared for such a heatwave when he arrived in the Greek capital, Athens.

“It’s been a little tough so far. Not the greatest feeling ever,” he said. “So I’ve just been adapting by drinking lots and lots of water.”

Couriers, food delivery riders and builders in the wider area of the Greek capital Athens and other regions were among those ordered to pause work from midday until 5pm, as the mercury was expected to climb as high as 43 deg C, the labour ministry said.

Workers with underlying health issues were advised to work remotely to avoid heat stress.

Tourists in Athens, one of the most densely populated capitals in Europe sitting on a plain flanked by mountains, sought out air-conditioned restaurants and stores, and some said they were staying inside in the middle of the day.

One 39-year-old visiting from the US, who gave his name as Craig, hired a cab for sightseeing in the city because it was too hot to walk.

“It was incredibly hot, but having that break in between the sites was really helpful,” he said.

Acropolis shut

The authorities announced that the Acropolis, which sits on a rocky hill offering barely any shade and is Greece’s most-visited ancient site, would be closed for five hours from midday on July 22 and July 23, a common step when temperatures soar.

The heatwave will continue until July 27, the Greek meteorological service said.

Scorching heat also gripped neighbouring Bulgaria on July 22, with the authorities urging businesses to give away water and cut physical labour during high-risk hours.

On the border between Kosovo and Albania, weeks without rain and increased power production nearly emptied the Fierza lake, a source of hydroelectric power.

Cows ate grass in what used to be the bottom of the lake.

In Kosovo, Mr Milazim Duraku, a 62-year-old farmer from Prizren, chided younger workers for seeking shelter as he picked yellow peppers for sale at market the following morning.

“Those youngsters they can’t stand the heat. They work only a few minutes in the evening or in the morning,” he said.

In Albania, firefighters assisted by four aircraft from Italy and Greece battled two wildfires at a national park in the north and near the south-western village of Dukat.

Large parts of Western Europe sweltered in another severe heatwave in June that left many dead and triggered forest fires and health alerts across the region.

In Italy, where June’s heatwave was blamed for several blackouts including in Florence and Milan, electricity consumption in June was up 7.4 per cent year-on-year, national power grid operator Terna said on on July 22, linking the increase to surging temperatures.

Across the globe, 2024 was the warmest year on record, with

temperatures exceeding 1.5 deg C

above the pre-industrial era for the first time.

Research published last week showed that the soil surface temperature around Athens rose in some places by as much as 10 deg C since July 2024 after fires destroyed vegetation. REUTERS