Athens - Greece's emergency services on Monday braced themselves for a week of power cuts, forest fires and heart-related ailments as temperatures were expected to rise above 40 degrees Celsius. Medical services and hospitals have been placed on alert for a possible influx of patients suffering from heat stroke and other heat-induced ailments across the country.
Elderly citizens were advised not to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary and local authorities in Athens and other cities will open up several air-conditioned halls this week so that the poor and homeless can take advantage of air conditioners during the heatwave.
Greece's largest electricity utility, Public Power Corporation, warned private households to limit the amount of time air conditioning systems are switched on, saying it may be forced to impose power cuts to deal with the increased demand.
Current dry conditions and high temperatures follows record temperatures that hit south-east Europe and Greece last year, leaving dozens dead and sparking hundreds of wildfires.
With temperatures set to peak at above 42 degrees in many parts of the country on Wednesday, fire services are on standby to avert the outbreak of fresh forest fires.
Firefighters on Mount Mainalo in the Peloponnese were battling for a fifth day to contain a blaze sparked by a lightning bolt last Friday.
