'Red alert' issued for British tourists in Cyprus, Greece and Turkey over scorching heatwave

James Rodger
·3-min read
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Murat Sengul/Anadolu via Getty Images)
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Murat Sengul/Anadolu via Getty Images)


UK holidaymakers heading to Cyprus, Greece or Turkey have been issued a stark warning as temperatures soar to a blistering 44C amid a heatwave. The alert comes after four tourists tragically lost their lives on Greek islands in recent days.

The Hellenic National Meteorological Service issued a weather warning earlier this week, stating: "On Friday (14-6-2024) the temperature will drop in the west, central and north, but in the rest of the areas it will remain at very high levels, while from the afternoon hours a change in weather is expected in northern Greece with thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds.

"In the northern mainland, the maximum temperature will reach 34 to 36 degrees and in central Macedonia 37 degrees Celsius, while its minimum values will range around 24 to 26 degrees Celsius. In the rest of the mainland, the maximum temperature will reach 36 to 38 degrees, in the interior of Sterea, Thessaly and Peloponnese 39 degrees Celsius, while the minimum values will range around 25 to 27 degrees."

"In the island country the maximum temperature will reach 34 to 36 degrees and in the islands of the eastern Aegean, the Dodecanese and the interior of Crete 37 to 39 and possibly 40 degrees Celsius while its minimum values will range around 27 to 28 degrees Celsius."

The Met Office says temperatures across the UK will drop by six to eight degrees over the weekend, returning to normal levels for this time of year. Meanwhile, strong northerly winds are expected to prevail, reports Birmingham Live.

In Greece and Cyprus, however, the mercury is set to soar. Cyprus is currently battling wildfires and has experienced highs of 39C.

The country's Department of Meteorology has issued an "extreme maximum weather warning", urging residents to take action and protect vulnerable individuals. They have also been advised to prepare for possible infrastructural breakdowns.

Turkey is also grappling with wildfires, with temperatures predicted to reach a staggering 45C. The Foreign Office has issued a warning about the frequent occurrence of wildfires during the summer in Turkey.

It advises against lighting any kind of fire or discarding cigarettes in risk areas such as woodlands, adding that barbecues are prohibited in these areas. The Foreign Office further advises: "If there is a wildfire in your area, local authorities may tell you to leave your accommodation. Follow the directions of local authorities. If you see a wildfire, call emergency services on 112."

It adds: "There are active wildfires across Greece, including in populated areas on the mainland and a number of islands.

"Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly. Follow "112 Greece" on X (formerly known as Twitter) for official updates."

It further mentions Cyprus: "Forest fires and wildfires often occur during the summer months due to dry and hot weather."

"Wildfires are dangerous and unpredictable. Take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas. Put out cigarette ends properly, and do not light barbecues outside of designated areas. If you see a fire, call the emergency services on 112 or 1407."

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • Map shows which parts of UK will be 'hotter than Ibiza' next week

    Temperatures in England will match those on the Balaeric Islands next week, according to reports, with highs of 26C expected in some places.

  • What is causing the dangerous heatwave in the US and will it affect the UK?

    The National Weather Service says the heatwave is ‘potentially the longest experienced in decades for some locations’

  • The US Government's Recommended House Temperatures Has Everyone In Disbelief

    Unfortunately, that's not happening. I'm not European!

  • Italy braces for 39°C temperatures as heatwave in southern Europe causes mounting safety concerns

    Intense heat continues to scorch southern Europe this week - with health officials warning people to stay sheltered and hydrated.

  • UK weather: Temperatures set to rise - with some areas forecast to be as hot as Ibiza

    Warmer weather is on the way with the UK finally set to enjoy a spell of sunshine - as temperatures in some parts are expected to match those in Ibiza. While temperatures will likely hover at around 20C (68F) over the weekend, with highs of 24C (75F) in the south, Monday and Tuesday could be as hot as Ibiza in the southeast. It is forecast to be 25C (77F) on the sunny Spanish island at the start of next week, matching London and surrounding areas, with the Midlands and northwest a degree or two cooler.

  • London weather: Capital to be hotter than the Algarve with temperatures to reach 27C in near-heatwave

    London set to be hotter than a number of popular holiday destinations on the continent

  • How to stay safe in dangerously hot weather, according to the experts

    The death of broadcaster and writer Michael Moseley in Greece this year has highlighted the very real dangers of hot weather, from dehydration to heat exhaustion to heat stroke.

  • Grolar bear hybrids in N.W.T. all traced back to same 'strange' female polar bear

    A family of polar and grizzly bear hybrids, or grolars, in Canada's western Arctic — which all started with a "pretty strange" female polar bear — is "quite rare," according to a new study. The research paper, published last week in the journal Conservation Genetics Resources, used a new tool to look at samples from 371 polar bears and 440 grizzly bears across Canada, Alaska and Greenland. The samples had been collected between 1975 and 2015. Ruth Rivkin, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Un

  • Haj pilgrimage threatened as hundreds perish in heat

    STORY: Nearly 2 million Muslims will complete the haj pilgrimage this week, but extreme heat has been fatal for hundreds who started the journey last Friday, to the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.According to reports, at least 562 people have died during the haj. Egypt has reported 307 deaths and 118 missing, with temperatures hitting over 124 degrees Fahrenheit.The haj's timing is based on the lunar year, moving back 10 days each year.While the haj is now moving towards winter, it will occur in the peak of summer in Saudi Arabia by the 2040s.Climate scientist Fahad Saeed says these deaths hint at future risks for millions of haj pilgrims."We need to prepare, we need to adapt, we need to introduce the adaptation option as much as we can. While realizing that it will compromise on the centuries old ritual, but still we need to save people. But at the same time, we must do climate action to stop the global warming at 1.5 degrees centigrade. At anything beyond that, we are putting those pilgrims at the risk of death."Heat-related deaths during the haj have been recorded since the 1400s.Pilgrims' vulnerability stems from exertion, exposure, and older age, as well as a simple lack of acclimatization to the heat.According to Saudi officials last year, more than 2,000 people suffered from heat stress during that haj.A 2021 study in the journal Environmental Research Letters found that if global temperatures rise by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels, heat stroke risk for haj pilgrims will increase by five times.Still, pilgrims remain determined - for some, it's a one-in-a-lifetime affair."Haj is the fifth pillar of Islam and it is a mandatory duty for every capable person. So you have to exert efforts and get tired. Haj is a difficult task, so you have to exert efforts and perform the rituals even in the conditions of heat and crowding. You use an umbrella, drink water and pour it onto your body to prevent dehydration. And the water sprinklers in the walkways help."In 2016, Saudi Arabia implemented a heat strategy with shaded areas, water points at every 500 meters, and improved healthcare.Saudi health authorities advised pilgrims to stay hydrated and avoid outdoor activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during this year's haj.

  • Future of new oil and gas projects in UK thrown into doubt after landmark Supreme Court decision

    The future of new oil and gas projects in the UK has been thrown into doubt following a landmark decision by the Supreme Court. The court concluded the environmental impact of emissions from burning fossil fuels must be considered in planning applications for new extraction projects - not just the impacts of the emissions produced in extracting them. The case hinged around an oil drilling project at Horse Hill in Surrey, granted planning permission by Surrey County Council in 2019.

  • Bear Floating in Pond Is the Picture of Summer Bliss

    Sonya the bear was “truly delightful to behold” as she floated with her paws up in a pond at the Orphaned Wildlife Center, according to those running the New York sanctuary.“Notice how she effortlessly floats with her toes adorably protruding,” the center wrote on YouTube.Founded by Jim Kowalczik, Susan Kowalczik, and Kerry Clair in 2015, the OrphanedWildlife Center, in Otisville nurtures its animal residents in the hope they can be returned to the wild.The center often shares videos and updates about the animals in its care to its YouTube channel and Facebook page. Credit: Orphaned Wildlife Center via Storyful

  • Potential heatwaves forecast next week after grey start to the weekend

    The hotter weather comes as the number of people visiting the NHS website for hay fever advice has more than doubled this week.

  • US expedites air defence to Ukraine as Russia pounds power plants

    Washington promised Thursday to prioritise shipments of air-defence missiles to Ukraine after Russian bombardments forced mass blackouts and prompted the country's president to call for solar panels on hospitals and schools."Solar panels, smart meters, and energy storage units must appear in every school and hospital as soon as possible," he said in a statement on social media.

  • Culling wolves alters the survivors and that could be 'bad news' for caribou, study finds

    When wolves are killed by bullets fired from helicopters during Alberta government culls, surviving members of the pack quickly learn to evade the threat, a new study has found. For nearly two decades, Alberta has killed off hundreds of grey wolves each year in an attempt to bolster dwindling caribou populations, a practice critics have described as a misguided measure to help herds on the brink recover from habitat loss.New research sheds light on how the practice alters the surviving wolves an

  • These are the 7 gardening jobs you need to be doing before June ends

    From planting summer flower beds to watering hanging baskets, there are plenty of jobs to do before the sunshine (hopefully) arrives.

  • Heat wave shifts to New York and the I-95 corridor as search for more victims in the deadly New Mexico wildfires continues

    A dangerous heat wave scorching parts of the Midwest and Northeast will ratchet up in New York and the I-95 corridor, while deadly wildfires that claimed at least two lives and destroyed over a thousand structures are still burning in New Mexico. Here’s the latest:

  • Glastonbury weather forecast: Met Office share official advice for festival-goers

    After a few years of beautiful sunny weekends in Somerset, will the weather hold out for Glastonbury 2024?

  • Wales set for heatwave next week as temperatures forecasted to soar

    Summer could finally be here as Wales is forecasted to have a heatwave this coming week as temperatures are set to soar

  • Yellow heat health warning issued in parts of England - including North West

    It comes as temperatures are expected to rise to 24C in our region next week

  • What is a heatwave? London to be hotter than the Algarve with temperatures of 27C

    The Met Office predicts it will ‘feel very warm for those in the sunshine’ — but will it be a heatwave and how can you cope at work in such a situation?