
Brits travelling to Greece given updated travel advice during extreme heat
Britons travelling to Greece have been told to sign up for emergency alerts as the country is gripped by “extreme heat” and wildfires. The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for the popular tourist destination, with Britons warned of travel disruption as temperatures soar. It comes after thousands were evacuated from at least six seaside communities near Athens after their homes were threatened by wildfires. Much of Greece has been baking in near 40C conditions as a heatwave grips the continent, with temperatures in the southeast European country forecast to climb further later this week and into the weekend. “Extreme temperatures are currently affecting many areas of Greece,” the guidance says. “You can register on the Greek government’s Emergency Communication Service to receive emergency alerts.” Travellers are also advised to monitor local and international weather updates from the Greek Meteorological Service or European Meteorological Services, check conditions with their travel provider and follow the advice of local authorities at all times. There is also a chance that the extreme weather conditions could disrupt travel, the Foreign Office added. Officials in Greece issued the six evacuation orders on Monday morning as strong gusts of up to 70kph (45mph) whipped the wildfire closer to resort towns. The army, police special forces and volunteer rescuers freed retirees from their homes, rescued horses from a stable, and helped monks flee a monastery threatened by the flames. Last night water-dropping planes and helicopters tackled the flames near Lagonisi, some 40 km (25 miles) southeast of the capital. The second large wildfire broke out in a wooded area near the resort town of Loutraki, some 90km (55 miles) west of Athens, where a children’s summer camp and rehabilitation center for seniors were evacuated, local officials said. Fire Service spokesman Yiannis Artopios said the strong and changeable winds and mountainous terrain in which both fires broke out were slowing the firefighting effort. "The conditions are changing constantly and this has to be matched by our response. We have ordered multiple evacuations," he said. The evacuees gathered along the coastline or were put up in schools and hotels, while coast guard vessels were dispatched to smoke-heavy beachfronts to assist if needed. On a visit to Brusssels, Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described the risk posed by wildfires this month as "extremely difficult" to deal with. "We have always had wildfires and we always will have them. But with the effects of the climate crisis, we are experiencing fires with increasing intensity," Mr Mitsotakis said, speaking on the margins of talks between leaders from the European Union and Latin American and Carribean countries. Greater Athens and much of southern Greece were on the second highest level of alert for wildfires Monday and Tuesday following a four-day heat wave that eased over the weekend. More heatwave temperatures are expected later in the week. Residents and visitors in areas affected by the two fires received cell phone alerts from the Civil Protection Ministry. Loutraki Mayor Giorgos Gionis said municipal workers were also assisting seniors in the evacuations, adding that the operation had been impeded by cell phone reception outages. Local officials confirmed that homes had been destroyed and badly damaged in both fires. Southern and parts of eastern Europe are currently in the grip of a sweltering heatwave that meteorologists forecast will continue well into this week. Other popular holiday destinations including Italy, Spain and Turkey are also experiencing intense heat. Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in the La Palma area of the Spanish Canary Islands over the weekend as a wildfire tore through 4,500 hectares of land as firefighters struggled to tackle the blaze. Forecasters in Italy say that Sardinia looks set to become the “epicentre” of the heatwave this week and could see temperatures of 48C (118.4F), just shy of the record 48.8C (119.8F) recorded in Sicily in August 2021. This week’s heatwave has been named Charon after the ferryman who delivered souls into the underworld in Greek mythology. Last week’s was named Cerberus - the name of a mythical creature in ancient Greek folklore. Cerberus, a three-headed dog, was believed to guard the gates to the underworld. Scientists say climate change is making extreme weather events like the current heatwaves in Europe more common. Read More Which holiday destinations will be hottest this week and how can you stay safe as temperatures soar? Europe heatwave: Is it safe to travel to Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia? Extreme 40C heatwaves will frequently occur in UK without emissions cut, Met Office says Independent Traveller guide to best hotels and short breaks Best hotels in New York: Where to stay in Manhattan, Brooklyn and more Cheap hotels in Paris 2022: Where to stay for value for money
2023-07-18 16:56

What were the 'red flags' missed in Rex Heuermann's case? Nancy Grace claims Gilgo Beach murders could have been solved earlier
Rex Heuermann was arrested on suspicion of murdering four women, whose remains were discovered on a remote Long Island beach in December 2010.
2023-07-18 16:51

Russia-Ukraine war live: Moscow launches air strikes as Putin’s forces ‘face Kyiv attack on Crimea’
Russia launched overnight air attacks on Ukraine‘s south and east using drones and possibly ballistic missiles, Ukraine‘s Air Force and officials said early on Tuesday. A fire broke out at one of the “facilities” in the port of Mykolaiv late on Monday, the city mayor said. The port city provides Ukraine with access to the Black Sea. “It’s quite serious,” Mayor Oleksandr Senkevich said on the Telegram messaging app of the fire, adding that more detail will come in the morning. The southern port of Odesa and the Mykolaiv, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions were under threat of Russian drone attacks, the Air Force said on the Telegram messaging app. It added that Russia may be using ballistic weaponry to attack the regions of Poltava, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Kirovohrad. It comes as Russian defence ministry said they repelled a Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea in the early hours of Tuesday - a day after an explosion on the bridge killed two people. The ministry said their air defences destroyed 17 drones and another 11 drones were intercepted by electronic warfare systems. Read More What the Crimea bridge attack means for Ukraine’s counteroffensive Why the Crimea bridge attack will get under Putin’s skin Russia stops crucial Ukraine grain export deal hours after attack on Crimea bridge Trump finally reveals how he thinks he could end Russia’s war in Ukraine in a day
2023-07-18 16:49

Who was Kyleigh Brunette's father? Hero 9-yr-old's lemonade stand for mental health awareness inspired by dad's suicide
'I miss him so much and I wish he could come back,' said Kyleigh Brunette
2023-07-18 16:49

BlackRock Names CEO of World’s Biggest Oil Producer to Its Board
BlackRock Inc. has named Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser to its board, underscoring the asset manager’s
2023-07-18 16:29

Russia targets key Ukraine Black Sea port of Odesa, a day after halting grain export deal
Ukrainian forces have shot down 25 exploding drones and six cruise missiles from a pre-dawn Russian attack on the port of Odesa
2023-07-18 16:26

Where is Nancy Salzman now? NXIVM co-founder seeks immediate release from prison following breast cancer scare
Salzman, 69, claimed to have undergone a 'worrisome ultrasound', and her attorney argued that officials had neglected to address her medical issue
2023-07-18 16:25

ECB Member Klaas Knot Calls Hiking Beyond July ‘At Most a Possibility’
European Central Bank Governing Council member Klaas Knot said monetary tightening beyond next week’s meeting is anything but
2023-07-18 16:24

Tristan Tate calls for Revolut app's boycott after accusing it for hoarding $700k and canceling him, trolls say 'you got rugged'
Tristan Tate said, 'They still have 700,000 dollars of my money and have not returned it or given me a reason'
2023-07-18 16:22

What can't actors do during SAG-AFTRA strike? Full list of guidelines stars must follow
SAG-AFTRA published a detailed guideline for the participating actors regarding what they can’t and can do
2023-07-18 16:21

Odesa port infrastructure damaged in overnight Russian attacks
By Gleb Garanich KYIV (Reuters) -Russia carried out missile and drone strikes on southern and eastern Ukraine overnight that caused
2023-07-18 16:18

Israeli protesters block highways in 'day of disruption' against Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan
Israeli protesters have blocked highways and gathered outside Tel Aviv’s stock exchange and military headquarters in the latest countrywide demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned judicial overhaul
2023-07-18 15:59
You Might Like...

What do Shakira's children call Gerard Pique's GF? Former couple's sons have a strange nickname for Clara Chia

Record heat waves illuminate plight of poorest Americans who suffer without air conditioning

Friends of missing Katy Perry songwriter Camela Leierth-Segura fear someone is holding her captive

Rumors fly after Jennifer Aniston seen with $400M tech entrepreneur

Cassidy Hutchinson: Five things we learned from latest Trump aide book

Anna Jones killing: Mother files lawsuit against drunk professor who shot dead her 18-year-old daughter

Johnny Depp wanted Amber Heard 'barefoot and pregnant' but she did not want children with an 'addict'

Major-winner Morikawa pledges $1,000 per birdie to Hawaii fire relief