Is Athens Burning? No, but Fires Fanned by Record Heat, High Winds Cast Pall Over City at Height of Tourist Season

Greece and other Mediterranean countries battle fires as unrelenting heat wave grips southern Europe, Middle East.

Anthony Grant/The New York Sun
Smoke from wildfires hovers over Athens on July 18, 2023, as Europe grapples with a dangerous heat wave. Anthony Grant/The New York Sun

ATHENS — Just when you thought it was safe to climb up the Acropolis to take a selfie, the likelihood is growing that the ancient site could be closed off to tourists during what are normally the busiest times to visit: midday to early evening. Greece is not only grappling with the same searing temperatures that are gripping Italy and other holiday hotspots across southern Europe, but is also battling major wildfires on the perimeter of the capital. 

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