Earliest-ever heat wave in Greece forces Acropolis' closure in Athens

The Acropolis of Athens, Greece's most-visited tourist site, was closed to the public during the hottest hours of Wednesday as the season's earliest-ever heat wave swept the country, prompting school closures and health warnings.

The UNESCO-listed archaeological site closed from midday to 5 p.m., with temperatures topping 43 degrees Celsius in central Greece.

Temperatures of up to 44 degrees Celsius are expected on Thursday as the phenomenon peaks, with up to 43 degrees forecast in the capital.

Meteorologists said this is the earliest heat wave on record for Greece – temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius for at least three days.

"This heat wave will go down in history," meteorologist Panos Giannopoulos said on state TV ERT.

"In the 20th century we never had a heat wave before June 19. We have had several in the 21st century, but none before June 15," he said.

The Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection has warned of a very high risk of fires in the Attica region around Athens.

Schools stayed closed in several regions of the country on Wednesday and will do so again on Thursday, including in the capital, while the labor ministry has advised public-sector employees to work from home.

The ministry also ordered a pause from midday to 5 p.m. for outdoor work including food delivery.

Still, many employees are obliged to take their own precautions.

Tassos Konstantinidis, a 25-year-old selling mobile phone cards for a major telecoms company, wore a cap and brought along an icebox for his water.

"I lived this last year when we had almost 10 days of heat wave," he said.

"It's up to me to organize myself and take breaks if needed," he said. "My employer has made no such provisions."