Heatwave Chaos at the Acropolis: Tourists Brave Scorching Temperatures, Red Alerts, and Medical Emergencies

Despite temperatures soaring into the high 30s amid a deadly heatwave sweeping across Europe, European tourist hotspots have been inundated with holidaymakers this week.

On Thursday, hundreds of people were spotted queuing in the scorching heat to see the Acropolis of Athens, despite the dangerous levels of the ongoing heatwave. The rising temperatures have prompted multiple European cities to issue red alert warnings, indicating a significant risk to life for even the healthy population, as defined by the Met Office.

As the heatwave named Cerberus continues to grip the continent, temperatures may reach a staggering 48.8°C. This extreme weather event is affecting countries such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. The heatwave, caused by an anticyclone weather system from the Saharan desert, is expected to persist for two weeks.

Reports have emerged of people queuing at the Acropolis requiring medical attention, with some being transported to hospitals in ambulances. One person has already lost their life due to the heatwave, as a 44-year-old collapsed and later died in hospital.

The Greek Ministry of Culture has taken measures to protect visitors to the site of the Acropolis during a heatwave, it said said on Thursday.

Minister Lina Mendoni paid a visit to the site early in the morning, the ministry said in social media posts, while the Hellenic Red Cross responded to a ministry request and has distributed at least 20,000 bottles of water to visitors for free, as well as information on managing the extreme heat.