Greece is set to endure a scorching three-day heat wave, with temperatures soaring to or surpassing 40 degrees Celsius, warned Vassilis Kikilias, the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection of Greece. The heat wave, expected to commence today, poses an elevated risk of wildfires nationwide.
High Alert: Greece Braces For Intense Three-Day Heat Wave
This calls for utmost preparedness since Greece’s forecast is a three-day heat wave with temperatures reaching or exceeding the 40-degree Celsius mark, as explained by the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection of Greece, Vassilis Kikilias. The heat wave likely to begin today brings the dangerous possibility of wildfire, especially in all parts of the country.
The heat is to reach its peak on Wednesday and Thursday, as Greece has increased the fire risk level to very high, which is level four out of the overall five. The weather forecaster said that the temperatures could rise as high as 43 degrees Celsius in the coming days before a drop over the weekend is expected.
This is rather worrisome given that Greece is still facing an active struggle against forest fires. Although the Greek winter has been the warmest on record and the temperature in April equally high, they have received reports of forest fires as early as March at altitudes of over 1000 meters.
Just within this one month, firefighters have continuously fought different daily forest fire incidents.
In attempts to address this increasing threat, Greece recently increased fines for both careless and intentional arsonists as of May 1st. Current penalties include imprisonment for up to 20 years and a substantive fine of €200,000.
The National Observatory of Athens reported that fires in 2023 razed about 175, 000 hectares of forests and crops in Greece following a record two-week long unbearably scorching weather. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change claims that due to rising temperatures as a result of factors such as the burning of fossil fuels, the fire seasons are longer and there is increased destruction of land.
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Here Are A few destinations You Shouldn’t Miss When Visiting Greece
Santorini: TOUCHING THE HEAVEN The visitors cannot remain indifferent to the beauty of the painted houses and powerful sunsets, clear sea, and beautiful contrasts of the coastline of the Island of Santorini – the picturesque Oia and Fira at the top of the cliffs.
Athens: The capital city of Greece comprises a unified cultural location that also holds the historic side and the technological part. , other sightseeing activities, tourists may also visit the Acropolis this is considered as the home of the revered Parthenon it is among the oldest building structures in the world to date.
Meteora: The monasteries situated on top of the giant cliff formations that adorn Meteora have made this place among those listed under UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Such monasteries were constructed in the 14th century and from such places, people are allowed to have good looks at the terrains.
Crete: Located in southern Greece, Crete is the largest of the country’s islands and has diverse landscapes including beaches ranging from sand to rocks, mountain region, and archaeological values. Go to archaeological sites like the Palace of One Thousand Rooms where myths flow and beautiful villages with old Venetian buildings like Chania and Rethymno with small ports.
Mykonos: As a place for entertainment with windmills, Mykonos islands are very famous among tourists who love both sun and fun parties. Spend a little time strolling around in the Mykonos Town which has beautiful white buildings and the streets of this town are paved with cobblestone-bearing shops and cafes.
As summer starts drawing near in Greece, the weather is going to get hot and therefore any opportunity for new fires to start must be avoided at all times. People are advised to avoid disturbing and encroaching into the natural and historical areas of the country by assuming proper conduct and understanding of the relevant regions.
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