ATHENS: Greece introduced emergency measures today to help workers cope with temperatures of up to 43°C in a heatwave due to last all week.
Cities opened up air-conditioned public rooms and the labour ministry ordered a pause in outdoor work from 12pm to 5pm in most of the country, including Athens.
National weather service EMY has said the heatwave that began yesterday is not expected to ease before Sunday.
Temperatures in the capital and Thessaloniki are forecast to reach 40°C today, with highs up to 43°C in central Greece.
The heatwave is expected to peak in Athens on Thursday with temperatures of up to 41°C, the agency said.