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Greece has closed more ancient tourist sites in Athens and the elderly are sheltering in designated air-conditioned areas as the first heat wave of the summer continues for a third day.
The famous Acropolis, perched on a rocky hill overlooking the capital, and other nearby tourist attractions were closed on Thursday afternoon as winds from North Africa pushed temperatures to 43C.
Many primary schools and nurseries across the country were closed to protect students from the heat, which was expected to subside on Saturday.
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In Athens, tourists stopped at fountains to cool their heads and necks.
Local residents sat in air-conditioned rooms set up by the city, using hand fans to create a breeze.
Firefighters, who extinguished several wildfires on Wednesday, remained on high alert as strong winds are expected to hit several parts of the country.
Greece is one of the countries worst hit by global warming in Europe, with rising temperatures fueling deadly fires and erratic rains in recent years.
Athens, a city of five million people set in a coastal bowl choked with apartment blocks and surrounded by mountains, is one of the hottest cities in Europe.
Scientists warn that summer temperatures there could rise by an average of 2C by 2050.
Athens Mayor Harris Doukas tried to create more shade by planting 2,000 trees.
“Our first goal will be to lower the average temperature, the perceived temperature of the air,” he told Reuters.
“There are areas where the temperature is 15 or 20 times higher on a cement or city road compared to a shaded area.”
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