Heatwave forces Athens to close Acropolis, U.S. Southwest broils

Temperatures next week could break Europe's current record - 48.8 Celsius recorded in Sicily in August 2021. Italian meteorologists have dubbed the next phase of the European heatwave "Charon" - a reference to the ferryman of the souls of the dead in Greek mythology. DEATH, BURNS AND DEHYDRATIONIn many places in the Southwest of the United States, where hot summers are the norm, extreme temperatures that could break records are forecast in the coming days. ACROPOLIS NOT NOWIn Athens, with temperatures peaking above 40 Celsius, authorities closed the Acropolis Hill, home to the Parthenon temple that is visited by millions of tourists every year, from noon to 5 p.m. (0900 GMT-1400 GMT). Others were brought down from the Acropolis Hill in golf carts and transferred to wheelchairs.