ROME – As scorching temperatures continue to grip Europe, the Acropolis in Athens remained closed for a second day, while officials warned of even hotter weather to come. The impending heat wave is expected to push temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in several popular Mediterranean tourist destinations.
Amidst the sweltering conditions, people in cities sought refuge by dousing themselves in fountains, seeking out pools, heading to the sea, or finding shade in a bid to find relief from the heat wave caused by a high-pressure anticyclone named Cerberus, after the three-headed dog in Greek mythology that guarded the gates to the underworld.
In Italy, fifteen cities, mainly in the central and southern regions, were under heat advisories indicating a high level of risk for vulnerable individuals such as older adults, infants, and those with health conditions. While temperatures hovered in the mid-30s Celsius across much of the country, regions including Sardinia, Sicily, and Puglia were expected to reach between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius.
Popular tourist destinations like Bologna, Florence, and Rome were among the cities under alert. Rome experienced a high of 35 degrees Celsius on Saturday, with temperatures expected to rise as high as 42 degrees Celsius by Tuesday.
In Greece’s capital, Athens, where temperatures were forecasted to reach 41 degrees Celsius, authorities decided to keep the sun-exposed Acropolis monument closed from noon to 5:30 p.m., as they did on Friday.
While temperatures were relatively milder in Spain’s Canary Islands, a wildfire on the island of La Palma led to the precautionary evacuation of around 500 people. Officials warned that shifting winds and the dry terrain could lead to an increase in the number of evacuees.
Turkey’s coastal cities in the south and southwest experienced temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s. The popular tourist spot of Antalya reached a high of 44 degrees Celsius. In the northwestern cities of Edirne, Krklareli, and Tekirdag, 48 people were taken to emergency rooms with symptoms of heat stroke in the past two days.
The heat wave also took a toll on water levels in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city. The Omerli Dam reservoir, already at 41 percent capacity due to low rainfall, was losing 17,000 tons of water per hour during the early afternoon.
Further north, European countries such as Poland experienced sweltering temperatures, prompting authorities to advise older adults, in particular, to stay indoors or seek shade and remain well-hydrated. In downtown Warsaw and other cities, makeshift hose fountains were set up to provide people and their pets with a means to cool off. Authorities issued warnings against leaving children or pets unattended inside cars.
In Italy, some dog owners took their furry companions to a specially equipped beach near Rome known as “Baubeach” or “Woofbeach” in English. With the capacity to accommodate up to 150 dogs per day, the beach allows them to roam unleashed, providing a cool respite from the heat.
“The sea breeze, as you can feel, is something very pleasant that oxygenates and also gives this feeling of almost natural nebulization. There, this is pleasant for both people and dogs,” said Patrizia Daffina, owner of Baubeach.
Amid the heat, Carlo Cerese took his dog to the beach, stating, “Here he is very active all day. Actually, when he gets home, he takes a good nap. I think that here at least he doesn’t suffer from the heat.”