Athens: Greece authorities ordered additional fire patrols and infrastructure maintenance inspections on Friday as the country wrestles with heat waves fed by hot air from Africa which is expected to last more than a week.
Emergency steps will also include efforts to create more air-conditioned areas that are open to the public in the cities around Greece and in refugee camps, although the efforts are made by the limitations related to the Covid-19 pandemic in how many people are can gather together.
Temperature in Greece and the closest countries in Southeast Europe are expected to rise to 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 f) in many cities and cities on Monday and convenience only next week.
Officials said additional inspections were intended to prevent water and electricity blackouts, with the increasing use of AC testing the country’s energy capacity.
“This is a dangerous weather phenomenon.
We have said it since the beginning of the week,” said Theodoris Kollydas, director of the Greek national meteorology service.
“His condition will be stubborn and just subside in stages …
the air mass is very hot from the African coast to our territory.” When the temperature rises, three separate forest fires damaged houses in southern Greece this week, outside Athens and Western City Patras.
Civil Protection Head Nikos Hardalias said climate change increased the risk of fire.
“On average (in mid-summer), we deal with around 50 fires per day, and many of them are under difficult conditions.
That number is clearly increasing every year,” Hardalianias told private antenna television.
“This is a phenomenon that is gradually worse.
Climate change is now a climate threat.
I say it wherever I go.
We all have the responsibility to protect the country,” he said.