Greece on Tuesday (July 16) ordered some businesses not to let their employees perform heavy outdoor duties during afternoon hours this week amid soaring temperatures.

Greece on Tuesday (July 16) ordered some businesses not to let their employees perform heavy outdoor duties during afternoon hours this week amid soaring temperatures. Citing the labour ministry, a report by the news agency Reuters said that builders, food delivery riders, couriers, and shipwrights are among those having to pause work from midday till 5:00 pm (local time) from Tuesday to Friday (July 19). The waitstaff at beach establishments would also be prohibited from serving customers until 5:00 pm. The ministry has been conducting inspections, imposing hefty fines on employers, and revoking licences from non-compliant establishments. No relief from heat Greece has already seen high temperatures since last month, and the mercury is expected to reach 43 degrees Celsius by Thursday. The heatwave is being fueled by warm air masses moving from North Africa across Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Also read | Greece introduces six-day working week to turbocharge productivity; measure criticised Meteorologists have said that temperatures in Greece would not drop by much before the end of the month. With most of Greece seeing little or no rain in months, many of its islands, which draw millions of tourists over the summer, are also grappling with water shortages. Govt warns of dangerous heatwave On Thursday, the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY) issued a new emergency weather report warning of a dangerous heat wave engulfing Greece. Also read | Greece fights dozens of wildfires in 'most difficult day of year' A report by the Greek City Times said that coastal areas would experience slightly lower temperatures. Meanwhile, minimum temperatures are also expected to remain high, hovering between 27 to 29 degrees Celsius in most areas of the country. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid soaring temperatures in Greece, government restricts outdoor work

Even though summer is only getting started in the Northern Hemisphere, Greece is already experiencing an unheard-of heat wave that is causing wildfires to rage across the nation, visitors to pass out and die, and midday closures of the main tourist attractions.

Warm air from North Africa has caused record-breaking temperatures in Southern Europe. The Athens National Observatory reports that last week's highs in Athens exceeded 107°F, with Crete hitting 112°F and the Peloponnese peninsula hitting 111°F.

In recent weeks, at least five visitors have died or disappeared in Greece, including well-known British TV doctor and journalist Michael Mosley.

American visitor Toby Sheets was discovered dead on a beach on island west of Corfu on Sunday. The day before, the bones of a Dutch tourist were found on the Greek island of Samos in the east, and an American tourist went missing more than a week ago. He went for a trek and didn't come back, assumed to have died due to heat.

Greece's economy, which depends heavily on foreign tourists, has not been spared. The Greek Ministry of Culture declared this week that the Acropolis, the most famous ancient monument in the country overlooking the city, will be closed in the afternoon heat.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hajj-pilgrims-death-98-indians-die-amid-day-temperature-soaring-above-50-degrees-733871">Hajj pilgrims death: 98 Indians die amid day temperature soaring above 50 degrees</a>

Similar regulations were implemented last summer, but they weren't effective until July. The early closure this year was prompted by an incident in which a visitor passed out while awaiting a permit to enter the 3,300-year-old monument, highlighting the risks associated with extreme heat.&nbsp;

"The early start of the heat waves, combined with the dry winter, has led to a very difficult fire season," Greece's minister for civil protection, Vassilis Kikilias, stated. He claimed that the risk of wildfires, which authorities are finding difficult to suppress, was greatly heightened by the combination of high temperatures and strong winds. According to Kikilias, "a new fire breaks out almost every 10 minutes."

Greece's islands and mainland have seen a plethora of fires, some of which are thought to have been started intentionally. The disastrous fires of last summer, which forced thousands of people to flee Rhodes, have put the nation on high alert for this summer. The hot and dry weather will be made worse by gusts of up to 46 miles per hour, according to the National Meteorological Service of Greece.

"Even the smallest fire can rapidly turn into a fiery front," Kikilias added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Even though summer is only getting started in the Northern Hemisphere, Greece is already experiencing an unheard-of heat wave that is causing wildfires to rage across the nation, visitors to pass out and die, and midday closures of the main tourist attractions.

Even though summer is only getting started in the Northern Hemisphere, Greece is already experiencing an unheard-of heat wave that is causing wildfires to rage across the nation, visitors to pass out and die, and midday closures of the main tourist attractions. Warm air from North Africa has caused record-breaking temperatures in Southern Europe. The Athens National Observatory reports that last week's highs in Athens exceeded 107°F, with Crete hitting 112°F and the Peloponnese peninsula hitting 111°F. In recent weeks, at least five visitors have died or disappeared in Greece, including well-known British TV doctor and journalist Michael Mosley. American visitor Toby Sheets was discovered dead on a beach on island west of Corfu on Sunday. The day before, the bones of a Dutch tourist were found on the Greek island of Samos in the east, and an American tourist went missing more than a week ago. He went for a trek and didn't come back, assumed to have died due to heat. Greece's economy, which depends heavily on foreign tourists, has not been spared. The Greek Ministry of Culture declared this week that the Acropolis, the most famous ancient monument in the country overlooking the city, will be closed in the afternoon heat. Also read: Hajj pilgrims death: 98 Indians die amid day temperature soaring above 50 degrees Similar regulations were implemented last summer, but they weren't effective until July. The early closure this year was prompted by an incident in which a visitor passed out while awaiting a permit to enter the 3,300-year-old monument, highlighting the risks associated with extreme heat. "The early start of the heat waves, combined with the dry winter, has led to a very difficult fire season," Greece's minister for civil protection, Vassilis Kikilias, stated. He claimed that the risk of wildfires, which authorities are finding difficult to suppress, was greatly heightened by the combination of high temperatures and strong winds. According to Kikilias, "a new fire breaks out almost every 10 minutes." Greece's islands and mainland have seen a plethora of fires, some of which are thought to have been started intentionally. The disastrous fires of last summer, which forced thousands of people to flee Rhodes, have put the nation on high alert for this summer. The hot and dry weather will be made worse by gusts of up to 46 miles per hour, according to the National Meteorological Service of Greece. "Even the smallest fire can rapidly turn into a fiery front," Kikilias added. (With inputs from agencies)

Greece's summer tragedy: Record heat wave ignites wildfires, closes Acropolis, and claims tourists' lives

The Acropolis and Slopes, a world-famous archaeological site in the Greek capital Athens, were closed on Thursday and Friday afternoon due to high temperatures. The heatwave began hitting Greece starting last Tuesday, with temperatures higher than 38 degrees Celsius recorded from Wednesday to Friday. The Ephorate of Antiquities of Athens, a department within the Greek Ministry of Culture, said on Wednesday that due to the heatwave, the site would remain closed from 13:00 to 17:00 on Thursday and Friday. The Acropolis and its Slopes are located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens, with few trees available to provide shade for visitors against the scorching sun. In addition to hurting tourism, high temperatures are also affecting people's livelihoods.

Acropolis closes due to heatwave in Athens

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Amid soaring temperatures in Greece, government restricts outdoor work

Greece's summer tragedy: Record heat wave ignites wildfires, closes Acropolis, and claims tourists' lives

Acropolis closes due to heatwave in Athens