European heatwave: Marseille airport and Acropolis shut
Fires have broken out in France leading to the closure of a major international airport, while in Greece a tourist landmark was shut to protect visitors from scorching temperatures.
Europe
Don't miss out on the headlines from Europe. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The heat is on in Europe where a punishing heatwave has heightened the risk of wildfires and led to unexpected disruptions for tourists.
In France a wildfire led to the closure of a major international airport, while in Greece the Acropolis was partially shut to protect visitors and workers during a four-day heatwave.
Meanwhile, newly-released data from the European Drought Observatory found Europe and the Mediterranean basin have been hit by a long-lasting drought covering over 45 per cent of the region since mid-March.
Findings are categorised into one of three levels of drought: watch, warning and alert – the last level signalling that vegetation is developing abnormally.
The EDO data – up to June 20 – shows that drought in the region has worsened. Since the start of June, seven per cent of soils have been on alert, twice as much as in mid-March.
Eastern European countries are the most concerned.
Get the latest on Europe’s heatwave below.
GREECE
Greece’s top archaeological monument, the Acropolis, was partially shut Tuesday as part of emergency measures to protect visitors and workers around the country during a four-day heatwave.
The Greek culture ministry shut the world-renowned site, which recorded some 4.5 million visitors last year, shut from 1-5pm “for the safety of workers and visitors, owing to high temperatures.”
Officials had been forced to order similar shutdowns in the past two years in heatwave conditions.
The four-day heatwave confirmed by meteorologists began Sunday is the second to grip Greece since late June.
The national weather service EMY said temperatures in Athens in the afternoon had reached 37C, and 40C in central Greece.
Similar temperatures are expected on Wednesday, before dropping Thursday.
To protect outdoor workers, the labour ministry decreed a work stoppage from 12-5pm in various parts of the country, including several islands.
The Greek civil protection authority has warned of high fire risk in the greater Athens area, in central Greece and the Peloponnese peninsula on Wednesday.
Greece’s fire department has been dealing with up to 50 fires daily, the head of the Greek fire service officers’ union Constantinos Tsigkas told state TV ERT.
Last week, tourists and residents on the island of Crete were forced to evacuate as a massive wildfire ripped through the municipality of Ierapetra.
FRANCE
A wildfire in southern France on Tuesday forced Marseille airport to close and interrupted train traffic.
Some 400 people fled their homes and at one stage 15,000 residents of northern Marseille, France’s second city, were told to stay indoors to avoid the smoke.
Residents returned to their devastated homes on Wednesday local time after dozens of homes were destroyed or severely damaged and cars turned into blackened shells.
More than 1000 firefighters were needed to control the blaze that regional authorities said was still not completely out late Wednesday local time.
The fire started in a vehicle in the area of Pennes-Mirabeau to the north of Marseille, on the road to the airport, roaring across 700 hectares by the evening, firefighters said.
It sent plumes of acrid smoke billowing into the sky, causing the airport to close its runways shortly after midday, a spokesman for the Marseille Provence airport said.
The spokesman later said that the airport would partially reopen at around 9.30pm and that 54 flights had been cancelled and another 14 redirected.
The website of the SNCF national rail operator showed more than a dozen train trips had been cancelled in and out of the city.
It said rail travel to and from Marseille would remain “highly affected” on Wednesday.
Several forest fires have raged in recent days in southern France, fanning out at speed due to wind and parched vegetation after a heatwave.
About 100 people suffered light injuries in the Marseilles fire, including from emergency services.
“At the moment that I speak to you there are no deaths, which is remarkable given the extent of the fires,” he said.
“But there are all the reasons to think we are headed towards a summer of high risk.”
AUSTRIA
Even Austria, famous for its snowy alps, sweated through high temperatures.
Last Thursday local time (Wednesday AEST) the temperature climbed to 34C.
Severe heat warnings were issued across much of the country.
The country offered 23 “climate oases” with airconditioning, snacks and drinks for those in need, sponsored by Catholic charity Caritas, which also provided dedicated medical buses with volunteer doctors.
THE BALKANS
Serbia’s hydrometeorological service RHMZ warned that weather conditions could fuel more fires, after 620 fires were recorded Monday.
But there are also thunderstorms expected in Serbia’s northern Vojvodina region, as well as in western and central areas.
RHMZ has also warned of the possibility of hail and hurricane-force gusts of wind.
Croatia has already felt the impact of storms since Monday, with several of the country’s regions affected.
Two people were injured and hospitalised in Vinkovci after a storm knocked down a power line on a family house near the eastern town, police said.
The authorities said they had taken dozens of calls over wind-related emergencies including trees blocking roads, damaged roofs and power failures.
On Tuesday, heavy rain and gale-force winds flooded roads, knocked down trees and caused power outages at the Croatian port town of Split, the state-run HRT broadcaster reported.
At the town’s port, a ferry broke its moorings and hit a catamaran and a tourist excursion boat, sinking the latter.
There was similar trouble further north, with storms raging in Hungary and Slovakia.
In Budapest, strong winds damaged roofs, felled trees onto roads and downed power lines on Monday, with the national meteorological service HungaroMet measuring winds up to 137km/h locally.
Rail traffic was severely disrupted across Hungary with full restoration of services potentially requiring weeks, according to Construction and Transport Minister Janos Lazar.
In Slovakia, gale-force winds caused power outages and blew off the roof of a block of flats in the eastern town of Gelnica and fallen trees disrupted road and railway transport across the region.
The country’s weather service SHMU has issued a storm warning with heavy rain, wind and hail for Tuesday, mainly for central and eastern Slovakia.
BELGIUM
Belgium last week experienced record temperatures of up to 37C.
This heatwave led to the closure of some landmarks like the Atomium in Brussels, which closed early due to the high temperatures.
Additionally, the Royal Meteorological Institute extended a code red warning.
It marked the second driest period the country has experienced since record keeping commenced in 1892 (the driest period on record was in 1893) with a lack of rainfall adding to the temperature extreme.
BRITAIN
Temperatures soared to 36C in the UK last week but cooled as the week progressed.
While play still went ahead, it was provisionally the hottest start to Wimbledon on record.
The BBC said temperatures at the All England Club had reached 31.4C on the first day of play on Monday.
CYPRUS
There’s no relief on this idyllic island with temperatures of up to 37C forecast and a high fire danger in place.
CZECHIA
The Czech Republic experienced one of the hottest periods of the year last week with temperatures climbing to 37C in Prague.
The soaring temperatures prompted the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute to issue clear advice for the public.
“It’s important to follow a proper drinking regimen, preferably by increasing the intake of unsweetened soft drinks and mineral water,” the institute said.
“People should also limit physical activities, especially during the afternoon hours, when the heat peaks.”
GERMANY
It was so hot in Germany last week, the water level of the famed Rhine River dropped.
Southern Germany in particular saw temperatures of 39C, with visitors urged to use caution when venturing out.
Since the late 19th century, Germany has had “hitzefrei”, or heat holidays which are now in force.
When temperatures get too hot schools close for the afternoon, a popular policy with pupils.
ITALY
Red alerts were issued for 18 Italian cities last week including Rome, Milan, Verona, Perugia and Palermo, as well as across the Adriatic on the Croatian coast and Montenegro.
Venice offered free guided tours of airconditioned museums and public buildings to people over 75, a demographic especially vulnerable to extreme heat.
In Rome, city swimming pools were free of charge for those over 70.
And hospitals such as the Ospedale dei Colli in Naples set up dedicated heat stroke pathways to speed access to vital treatments including cold water immersion.
LUXEMBOURG
South Luxembourg went under the highest level extreme heat warning with temperatures reaching 37C in urban areas and 38C along the Moselle River last week.
Luxembourg’s authorities advised visitors and residents to take precautions, including staying hydrated, avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun during peak heat hours, and seeking cool or air-conditioned places.
THE NETHERLANDS
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute specifically warned people in the Gelderland area last week where temperatures peaked at 37C.
In Amsterdam, extra measures were put in place to protect the homeless while officials in Eindhoven and Arnhem deployed teams to check-in on vulnerable elderly people.
Schools in Rotterdam and across West Brabant adopted “tropical schedules” that mean shorter hours and additional water breaks for pupils to reduce heat exposure.
PORTUGAL
Portugal recorded its highest-ever single-day temperature in June – 46.6C.
Temperatures reached 40C in the central city of Castel Branco, Beja and Evora in the south, and 34C in the capital last Tuesday.
Some 250 firefighters were called to tackle a blaze which broke out in the southern Aljustrel area.
The intense weather also caused unique weather phenomena – a ‘roll cloud’ went viral after footage of the cloud was shared online.
SPAIN
Temperatures in southern Spain soared to 46C last week.
The ocean didn’t give too much respite either as the Mediterranean Sea was warmer than usual reaching bathwater levels of up to 30C.
The Red Cross set up an airconditioned “climate refuge” in southern Malaga for those impacted.
SWITZERLAND
The Women’s Euro 2025 Championship tournament had to adapt fast with temperatures in a nation better known for its snow-capped mountains reaching astronomical levels.
While temperatures for the opening day of the football championship were 35C – a full 10 degrees above average – by the time kick off rolled around they dropped to a more manageable 28C.
Organisers placed large fans of playing fields to prevent the grass burning.
If temperatures reach 32C during play, cooling breaks of between 90 second to three minutes are brought in for players.
TURKEY
Rescuers evacuated more than 50,000 people threatened by a string of wildfires, most from the western province of Izmir, where winds of 120km/h fanned the blazes.
– with AFP
More Coverage
Originally published as European heatwave: Marseille airport and Acropolis shut
Join the conversation
Fireball doesn’t stop Aussies joining thousands at Tomorrowland
Aussies are among thousands at Tomorrowland, one of the world’s largest electronic music festivals, which found a way to fix its main stage after the event was thrown into doubt by a fire.
Read more
Major new role for Queen Mary’s son
Aussie born Queen Mary’s teen son Crown Prince Christian has been given a prestigious responsibility amid reports his sister Princess Isabella may be moving to Australia temporarily.
Read more