Greek wildfires threaten cultural heritage sites including Acropolis and Olympia

Greece is experiencing its worst climate emergency in 40 years, with 154 wildfires burning across the country, threatening numerous archaeological sites. The Acropolis in Athens has been closed every afternoon since August 5 as a safety measure, with temperatures reaching 47°C and ground temperatures recorded at 55°C in central Athens. The archaeological site of Olympia in the western Peloponnese was evacuated last week, with the fire coming within one kilometer of the site, destroying about twenty houses and large parts of Elis and Messenia. The island of Evia, the second largest in Greece, has been hit by a violent fire since August 3, forcing the evacuation of over 1,300 people and threatening a monastery. In Mani, Peloponnese, more than 5,000 residents and tourists have fled, with the mayor estimating that 50% of the eastern part of the region has been completely burned. Civil protection chief Nikos Hardalias described the conditions as 'extremely dangerous' and unprecedented, stating that 'we are no longer talking about climate change, but a climate threat.' The army has been deployed alongside firefighters to protect populated areas, power grids, and historical sites. Ash has been falling over Athens, endangering archaeological heritage across the capital and throughout Greece, according to former deputy mayor of Athens Eleni Myrivili.