Anyone heading off to some popular holiday hotspots in Greece has been warned of some potential natural dangers which could wreak havoc on travel plans.
Extreme heat has been a very common problem in parts of Europe over the past few years, which is thought to be down to climate change. And Athens, the Greek capital, is currently experiencing its ‘earliest heatwave on record’ with tourists and locals bracing for searing 43C temperatures.
Elsewhere, the island of Rhodes experienced a 4.8 magnitude earthquake on the evening of Wednesday June 12 – with Greek media reporting that it was also felt in Turkey.
Greece is one of the European countries thought to be most affected by the current climate crisis and it can become extremely hot in the summer months – but this current heatwave has kicked off earlier than expected.
In Athens, schools have been forced to close for up to two days, as the mercury was expected to peak at a sweltering 43C on Wednesday June 12 and Thursday June 13.
The potentially life-threatening heat meant that the Acropolis, one of Greece’s most prominent tourist hotspots, was closed to the public from 9am until 2pm (GMT) on Wednesday.
According to meteorologists, this extreme heat is being caused by hot air blowing in from North Africa. Local authorities have warned tourists and locals to remain vigilant, and an excessive heat warning has been put in place by the Greek weather service EMY.
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In 2023, Rhodes was particularly badly affected by extreme heat, which resulted in wildfires ripping through the island – forcing many people to flee their homes and hotels in the midst of the chaos.
And while the current heatwave is mostly impacting mainland Greece so far, the island is facing its own dangers after a 4.8 magnitude earthquake was recorded on the evening of Wednesday June 12.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said the earthquake’s epicentre was detected in the Aegean Sea around 67km (41 miles) south west of the island, according to Volcano Discovery.
According to data, the quake was located at a moderately shallow depth of 51 km. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake may change quickly, as experts review the findings.
Experts say that the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicentre.
The advice from the UK Foreign Office surrounding earthquakes is as follows:
- familiarise yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake
- follow advice given by the local authorities
- call the Greek Emergency Services on 112 if you are in immediate danger
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