And today, the mercury hit the red zone, reaching as high as 40 degrees Celsius.

Tomorrow will bring a brief respite from the yellow warnings—though not from the stifling conditions—as the temperature is expected to drop to 39 degrees, only to return to the 40s again starting Wednesday. 

“Temperatures might rise a bit more on Saturday, reaching close to 41. But we’re not forecasting particularly high or extreme temperatures. That is, 43 and above—at least for now.”
^{Michalis Mouskos – Meteorologist}

Amid the particularly hot conditions, the Fire Department is sounding the alarm about the increased risk of fires breaking out and spreading. 

Last night, a fire that broke out in Avgorou destroyed around 750 bales of hay; the cause is under investigation. An alarm was also sounded near the open-air farmers’ market in Livadia, due to a fire that appears to have started in a reed bed and then spread to nearby vegetation.

Some makeshift market stalls sustained damage. The fire also threatened propane tanks, which were safely removed by firefighters. 

Watch the report by Rafaella Stavrinou: