The heat has already set the country ablaze, but Greeks must prepare to see the thermometer climb even higher: in Greece, the weekend "may be the hottest in the last fifty years" for a month of July, said Friday, July 21, a meteorologist of the public channel.

The country is experiencing a heat wave that is expected to last next week, while firefighters are still battling 79 fires in the country.

"We have three difficult days ahead of us. We must be vigilant!", also warned the Minister of Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias on ERT.

In the Greek capital, an absolute temperature record of 44.8°C was recorded in June 2007, according to the National Observatory of Athens, while the absolute record in Greece was reached in July 1977 with 48°C in Elefsina, near Athens.

Continued forest fires

On the front of the dozens of forest fires declared since the beginning of the week especially near Athens, the situation has improved but firefighters "still manage 79 fires across the country", according to the fire service.

Friday, July 21 was "another difficult day with 52 new fires across the country," said Vassilios Vathrakoyannis, spokesman for the service during a press briefing Friday night.

"The country remains on high alert for this weekend," he added.

Many European countries as well as Jordan and Israel have sent firefighters, planes and helicopters in recent days to help their Greek colleagues fight the flames, according to the Civil Protection.

On Friday, neighboring Turkey also announced the dispatch of two water bombers and a helicopter, according to the Turkish presidency.

The worst day yet to come

According to the national meteorological service EMY, midday Friday, temperatures of 41 ° C were recorded in Attica, in the region of Athens, and up to 44 ° C in Thessaly, in the center of the country.

On the island of Evia, a 46-year-old man died that day after being admitted to hospital with a "body temperature of 40 degrees".

"The possible cause of death is cardiorespiratory arrest after exposure to a very high temperature," the Chalkida hospital statement said.

Sunday, July 23 promises to be the worst day with temperatures approaching 44 ° C in Athens and 45 ° C in Thessaly.

"This weekend is likely to be the hottest recorded in July in the last fifty years," said ERT meteorologist Panagiotis Giannopoulos.

"Athens will have temperatures of more than 40 ° C for 6 to 7 days, until the end of July," an exceptionally long period even for a European capital accustomed to summer heat, he said.

An opinion shared by the meteorologist of the private television channel Mega, Yannis Kallianos, who described this heat wave as an "endless and powerful heat wave".

"According to the latest forecasts, the heat wave could last until Thursday 27 and next Friday, July 27 and 28," he added.

On Sunday and Monday (July 23 and 24), north winds of up to 60 km / h may also favor the start of fires, warned the expert.

All archaeological sites in the country, including the Acropolis of Athens, remain closed during the hottest hours of the day until Sunday, according to the Ministry of Culture.

The Ministry of Labour has called on employers to promote teleworking while the Ministry of Health has made recommendations to avoid all unnecessary travel in the middle of the day.

With AFP

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