Athens: Heat Waves Scorched Southeast Europe on Thursday, send residents to the beach, fountains and air-conditioned locations to find a little relief.
The temperature rises above 40 C (104 F) in some parts of Greece and throughout the region.
Weather experts in Athens said they expect a heat wave to extend to next week, making it one of the most severe recorded since the mid-1980s.
Cooling shelter places was established in the Greek capital, but access to air-conditioned public spaces was limited by pandemic restrictions.
“The ongoing heat wave is a dangerous weather phenomenon, because it will last until the end of next week with a small temperature range between the maximum and minimum level,” said Theodoris Kollydas, Director of the Greek National Meteorology Service.
Authorities in Serbia, Bulgaria and other affected countries advise people to avoid exposure to direct sunlight at midday.
Forest fires in Greece threatened the house for the third day in a row, with a Blaze reported Thursday outside the western city of Patras.