Greek authorities closed the Acropolis in Athens for a second day on Thursday afternoon due to unusually hot weather in the country.
The culture ministry said the hilltop castle, Greece’s most popular ancient site, was closed from noon to 5pm local time due to the hot weather.
All other archaeological sites in the Greek capital were also closed at the same time. The ministry said people who booked a visit during that time can use their tickets later in the day until the attraction closes at 8pm.
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On Thursday, temperatures exceeded 104 degrees Fahrenheit in much of central and southern Greece, including Greater Athens, the Cyclades and Crete.
Officials are on high alert for the wildfires that plague Greece every summer.
Vassilis Kikilias, the minister in charge of civil protection, said Thursday that a combination of high temperatures and high winds created a special wildfire risk.
“The early onset of the heat wave, combined with a dry winter, has resulted in a very difficult fire season,” he said.
The fire department also warned on Friday that the wildfire threat was very high.
Authorities in Athens are making air-conditioned areas available to the public and issuing fans to secondary schools where end-of-year exams and university entrance exams are held.
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Temperatures are expected to drop on Friday and Saturday.