Greece imposes work breaks as a heat wave grips the country
Greece imposes work breaks as a heat wave grips the country
A tourist with an umbrella stands on Filopappou Hill as Athens stretches out in the background, Monday, July 7, 2025, while authorities in Greece impose mandatory work stoppages in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
A tourist with an umbrella walks outside the Acropolis of Athens, on Monday , July 7, 2025 while authorities in Greece have imposed mandatory work stoppages in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Tourists rest in the shade as they wait to enter the Acropolis of Athens, Monday, July 7, 2025, while authorities in Greece impose mandatory work stoppages in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Tourist with umbrellas wait outside the Acropolis of Athens, on Monday , July 7, 2025 while authorities in Greece have imposed mandatory work stoppages in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
People take a shower in the late afternoon, as temperatures are expected to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the next few days, in the Glyfada suburb, south of Athens, Greece, on Sunday, July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
A man takes a shower near a beach during a hot day, as temperatures expect to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Farenheit) in the next days, in Palaio Faliro suburb, south of Athens, Greece, Sunday July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
A man tries to cool himself at a fountain during a hot day, as temperatures expect to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Farenheit) in the next days, in Palaio Faliro suburb, south of Athens, Greece, Sunday July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
People gather on the beach in the late afternoon as temperatures expect to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Farenheit) in the next days, in Glyfada suburb, south of Athens, Greece, on Sunday July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
People enjoy the sea in the late afternoon, as temperatures expect to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Farenheit) in the next days, in Glyfada suburb, south of Athens, Greece, on Sunday July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
A tourist with an umbrella stands on Filopappou Hill as Athens stretches out in the background, Monday, July 7, 2025, while authorities in Greece impose mandatory work stoppages in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
A tourist with an umbrella stands on Filopappou Hill as Athens stretches out in the background, Monday, July 7, 2025, while authorities in Greece impose mandatory work stoppages in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
A tourist with an umbrella walks outside the Acropolis of Athens, on Monday , July 7, 2025 while authorities in Greece have imposed mandatory work stoppages in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A tourist with an umbrella walks outside the Acropolis of Athens, on Monday , July 7, 2025 while authorities in Greece have imposed mandatory work stoppages in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Tourists rest in the shade as they wait to enter the Acropolis of Athens, Monday, July 7, 2025, while authorities in Greece impose mandatory work stoppages in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Tourists rest in the shade as they wait to enter the Acropolis of Athens, Monday, July 7, 2025, while authorities in Greece impose mandatory work stoppages in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Tourist with umbrellas wait outside the Acropolis of Athens, on Monday , July 7, 2025 while authorities in Greece have imposed mandatory work stoppages in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Tourist with umbrellas wait outside the Acropolis of Athens, on Monday , July 7, 2025 while authorities in Greece have imposed mandatory work stoppages in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
People take a shower in the late afternoon, as temperatures are expected to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the next few days, in the Glyfada suburb, south of Athens, Greece, on Sunday, July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
People take a shower in the late afternoon, as temperatures are expected to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the next few days, in the Glyfada suburb, south of Athens, Greece, on Sunday, July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
A man takes a shower near a beach during a hot day, as temperatures expect to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Farenheit) in the next days, in Palaio Faliro suburb, south of Athens, Greece, Sunday July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
A man takes a shower near a beach during a hot day, as temperatures expect to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Farenheit) in the next days, in Palaio Faliro suburb, south of Athens, Greece, Sunday July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
A man tries to cool himself at a fountain during a hot day, as temperatures expect to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Farenheit) in the next days, in Palaio Faliro suburb, south of Athens, Greece, Sunday July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
A man tries to cool himself at a fountain during a hot day, as temperatures expect to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Farenheit) in the next days, in Palaio Faliro suburb, south of Athens, Greece, Sunday July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
People gather on the beach in the late afternoon as temperatures expect to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Farenheit) in the next days, in Glyfada suburb, south of Athens, Greece, on Sunday July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
People gather on the beach in the late afternoon as temperatures expect to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Farenheit) in the next days, in Glyfada suburb, south of Athens, Greece, on Sunday July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
People enjoy the sea in the late afternoon, as temperatures expect to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Farenheit) in the next days, in Glyfada suburb, south of Athens, Greece, on Sunday July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
People enjoy the sea in the late afternoon, as temperatures expect to edge over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Farenheit) in the next days, in Glyfada suburb, south of Athens, Greece, on Sunday July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Authorities in Greece imposed mandatory work breaks on Monday in parts of the country where temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), with the heat wave forecast to last through Thursday.
The labor ministry ordered the work stoppage, in effect from midday to 5:00 p.m. (0900–1400 GMT), for outdoor manual labor and food delivery services, primarily in central Greece and on several islands. Employers were also asked to offer remote work options.
No emergency measures were implemented in Athens, and the current hot spell — following sweltering temperatures across Europe — is not considered unusual.
Greek authorities say they are taking long-term steps to address the effects of climate change, including the deployment this summer of a record number of firefighters.