Following a recent wildfire alert for the whole of Greece amid soaring summer temperatures, authorities have issued a warning and advice about how to stay safe in the extreme heat.
Wildfire risk
Forecasts for Greece predict daytime temperatures of around 40°C and above for the next fortnight, with little respite at night. In addition, south-westerly winds from Africa risk whipping up wildfires across the nation, which is already desiccated by the hottest June on record, and prior to that, the hottest year.
In summer 2023, amid the biggest wildfires ever recorded in the EU and more than twenty deaths, Greece was one of the initiators of a call by six southern European nations, to “coordinate and react, engage in a collective effort to halt and reverse the effects of the climate crisis.”
Almost a year later, over 2,000 wildfires have been detected since the beginning of June and the official view from the Ministry for Civil Protection and Climate Change is that 2024 is the most dangerous summer season for two decades.
Looking after your health
Their advice on coping with the heat includes wearing light clothing, staying hydrated with water and avoiding physical exertion, including leisure activities such as hiking. There has been a spate of tourist deaths on Greek and Spanish islands in recent weeks, including 67-year-old Michael Mosley, a popular celebrity doctor from the UK on the island of Symi, and 19-year-old Jay Slater, another Brit, whose body has now been found on a mountainside in Tenerife after a month-long search. Both had set out on walks in hot weather and on difficult terrain.
North Macedonia too
Bordering Greece to the north, North Macedonia is also being devastated by the extreme heat. A 30-day state of emergency has been declared and over 100 hectares of forests are ablaze. It is now forbidden to enter forested areas between the hours of 6am and 8pm. Turkish and Serbian firefighters are assisting local efforts to contain the flames.
Calls to emergency services due to heat-induced health problems are increasing, officials say. The advice there is to stay out of the sun, indoors if possible and again, to avoid strenuous activity. Kindergarten children are being kept inside in the hottest part of the day, and pregnant women and those aged over 60 are not allowed to go into work. The building industry is at a halt between 11am and 5pm.
