Several European countries are sending firefighting teams to Greece as wildfires there continue to rage. The Mediterranean region is likely to be hit by a new heat wave after days of high temperatures, forecasters say.
Ednews informs via DW that firefighting teams from Poland, Romania and Slovakia are due to arrive in Greece on Thursday to help local and other foreign emergency services combat fires near the capital, Athens, as EU climate authorities say the world seems on track for its hottest July since measurements began.
The firefighters are being deployed in Greece as part of a European Union civil protection mechanism that foresees sending international crews to parts of southern Europe over the summer.
Israel has also said it will send two firefighting planes, adding to the four from Italy and France.
The fires in Greece are being driven partly by hot summer weather, with temperatures in the country's south expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the week.
Greek authorities said that several historical sites, including the Acropolis, will be closed to tourists during most of the afternoon from midday during the new heat wave, which is expected to run till Sunday.
The famous site, one of Athens' prime tourist attractions, already closed for three days from last Friday because of the heat but reopened to visitors from Monday.
Security guards at the Acropolis are also striking till Sunday for four hours every afternoon to protest at having to work in the high temperatures.
