Workers stopped their outdoor activities and tourists sought refuge in the shade as Greece was gripped by the third heat wave of this summer, Reuters reports, reports News.bg.
The extreme temperatures also affected the wider Balkan region, triggering forest fires in Albania.
Located at the southernmost tip of Europe, Greece traditionally experiences hot and dry summers, but in recent years climate change has led to longer and more intense heatwaves, as well as devastating floods and fires.
Couriers, food delivery people and construction workers in Athens and other regions were ordered to stop work from noon to 5 p.m. as temperatures were expected to reach 43°C.
People with health problems were instructed to work remotely to avoid the risk of heatstroke. In central Athens, a soldier uses a towel to wipe sweat from the face of a presidential guard.
Tourists in the capital, one of Europe's most populous, flocked to air-conditioned restaurants and shops, with many avoiding the heat.
Authorities have temporarily closed the Acropolis, the country's most visited ancient site, for five hours at noon today and tomorrow, as is often done during extreme heat.
Last month, Western Europe also suffered a severe heatwave that led to deaths and forest fires, and health warnings were issued in many countries.
2024 has already been declared the hottest year on record, with global temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels by more than 1.5°C for the first time.
According to a study published last week, the temperature of the soil surface in some parts of Athens has risen by up to 10°C since July, due to devastating fires.
The Greek Meteorological Service predicts that the heat wave will continue until at least Sunday.
The heat has not spared neighboring countries either. In Bulgaria, authorities have urged employers to provide water and limit physical work during the most risky hours.
In Montenegro, main roads were blocked by traffic as many headed to the sea in search of coolness.
In Albania, firefighters, supported by four aircraft from Italy and Greece, are battling two active forest fires - one in a national park in the north of the country and another near the village of Dukat in the southwest.