Sawt Falasteen - Greece broils on year's warmest day as three-day heatwave peaks

Outdoor work bans have also been announced during the warmest hours of the day for health reasons.

According to an emergency bulletin of the Greek Meteorological Service (EMY), the highest temperatures are expected in Thessaly (central Greece), in the east of the country and in parts of the Peloponnese.

The civil protection authority has placed the greater Athens area, central Greece and the Peloponnese on maximum wildfire alert for the first time this season.

Civil Protection minister Evangelos Tournas has warned that Wednesday, the tail end of a three-day heatwave, would be “very dangerous” and called for heightened vigilance.

"I urge every citizen to follow the authorities’ instructions and to avoid any work that could start a fire,” Tournas said Tuesday after a meeting of civil protection services.

The labour ministry has banned outdoor work between 1:00pm and 5:00pm (1000-1400 GMT) in the regions with the highest expected temperatures, with infractions punishable by fines.

Employers have also been urged to offer vulnerable groups the option of remote work.

It is unusual for temperatures to rise so late in July in Greece. Rain spells in June and strong winds this month kept heatwaves at bay this season while heat record after record was broken across most of Europe.

The National Observatory weather website Meteo.gr has said it was the third most delayed 40-degree recording since 2011, after July 20 in 2015 and July 30 in 2013.

B.Khalifa--SF-PST