Heat forces Greek authorities to shut down Acropolis during afternoon hours for a second day

Athens, Greece — Authorities in Greece The Acropolis of Athens closed. during Thursday afternoon for the second day as the country swelters under unusually high temperatures.

The Culture Ministry said the hilltop citadel, which is Greece’s most popular ancient site, was closed from noon to 5 p.m. local time due to the heat.

All other archaeological sites in the Greek capital were also closed during the same hours. People who had booked visits for that period could use their tickets later in the day until the sites close at 8 p.m., the ministry said.

Temperatures surpassed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday in much of central and southern Greece, including greater Athens, the Cyclades and Crete.

Authorities are on high alert due to the forest fires that hit Greece every summer.

The Minister responsible for Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, stated on Thursday that there is a special risk of forest fire due to the combination of high temperatures and winds.

“The early onset of heat waves, combined with the dry winter, has made for a very difficult fire season,” he said.

The fire service also warned on Friday of a very high risk of a bushfire.

Athens authorities are providing air-conditioned areas to the public and have delivered fans to secondary schools where end-of-year and university entrance exams are held.

Temperatures are expected to drop on Friday and Saturday.