Greece brings in emergency heatwave measures for workers

Greece introduced emergency measures on Tuesday to help workers cope with temperatures of up to 43C in a heatwave due to last all week.

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A woman walks with un umbrella in the centre of Thessaloniki on July 20, 2025. Greece's weather service EMY issued a warning for a new heatwave set to affect the Mediterranean country for the entire week. The heatwave will begin on July 21, will peak at an expected 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) on July 22 and will begin falling on July 26, EMY said in a statement. (Photo by Sakis Mitrolidis / AFP)

Greece introduced emergency measures on Tuesday to help workers cope with temperatures of up to 43C in a heatwave due to last all week.

Cities opened up air-conditioned public rooms and the labour ministry ordered a pause in outdoor work from 12:00 to 5:00 pm (0900 to 1400 GMT) in most of the country, including Athens.

National weather service EMY has said the heatwave that began on Monday is not expected to ease before Sunday.

Temperatures in the capital and Thessaloniki are forecast to reach 40C on Tuesday, with highs up to 43C in central Greece.

The heatwave is expected to peak in Athens on Thursday with temperatures of up to 41C, the agency said.

© Agence France-Presse