The Municipality of Athens has placed all its services on full alert due to the high temperatures expected over the coming days. Under the Civil Protection plan, from tomorrow, Sunday 23 August, and for as long as necessary, seven of the Municipality’s Friendship Clubs, its social centres for older residents, will operate as air-conditioned spaces for the public from 9am to 9pm.

Seven spaces with AC

Agios Pavlos Friendship Club, 22 Mamouri Street & Dymis Street. Telephone: 210 8223946

Ascension of the Lord Friendship Club, Neos Kosmos, 15 Heldreich Street. Telephone: 210 9240403

Votanikos Friendship Club, 4 Kozanis Street. Telephone: 210 3423716

Kolokynthous Friendship Club, Aimonos Street & Astrous Street. Telephone: 210 5140877

Agios Eleftherios Friendship Club, 372 Acharnon Street. Telephone: 210 2012334

Kypseli Friendship Club, Skyrou Street & Kavkasou Street. Telephone: 210 8815877

Ampelokipoi Friendship Club, Panormou Street & Vatheos Street. Telephone: 210 6459890

For the duration of the high-temperature period, the Municipality’s Reception and Solidarity Centre will supply the Friendship Clubs, the Multipurpose Centre for the Homeless and the Day Centre with water, refreshments and a special kit of personal hygiene items.

24-hour citizen helpline: 1595

Residents, particularly those in vulnerable groups, can contact the Municipality’s 24-hour Citizen Service Line on 1595 (charges vary by provider) or on 210 5287800. For medical advice on preventing and managing heat-related health problems, the Heatwave Line, run by the Multipurpose Municipal Medical Centres, is available on 210 3638049, daily from 8.30am to 7.30pm.

Increased operational readiness

On the Municipality’s round-the-clock increased operational readiness:

Teams from the Cleaning and Green Spaces Departments are carrying out patrols.

Municipal Police are monitoring green spaces and high-risk areas using ground units and camera-equipped drones, to enable rapid detection of critical temperature changes.

The Municipal Police Operations Centre is coordinating with the Fire Service, other relevant authorities and, where needed, additional services and municipalities.

Municipal water tankers are on standby at all times.

Vulnerable groups

To protect homeless people, the Municipality’s Streetwork teams will be active on the streets from 9am to 9pm. Social workers, nurses and psychologists will hand out bottles of cool water and personal hygiene kits.

Care for stray animals

For the city’s stray animals, the Municipality’s Urban Wildlife service has installed more than 130 water troughs in neighbourhoods across the capital, maintained by the service and by volunteers. Residents are asked to help keep them topped up with fresh, cool water. Guidance for pet owners, and for anyone caring for animals on the street, during periods of high temperatures is also available on Urban Wildlife’s social media pages. The Municipal Veterinary Clinic (94 Mesogeion Avenue & Trikalon Street) will operate from 9am to 3pm. Telephone: 210 7483967.

Protecting workers from heat stress

The Municipality of Athens is adjusting the operation of its services to protect employees’ health and safety from heat stress, in line with guidance from the relevant ministries and the required protective measures.

External work crews are being withdrawn from the field during the hottest hours of the day, between 11am and 5pm, while tasks are being rescheduled so that the most demanding work is carried out when temperatures are lower. Special provision is also being made for employees belonging to vulnerable groups, while all staff will be given the necessary personal protective equipment, cool water and adequate breaks, to ensure their duties can be carried out safely.

Special hours for the Cleaning Department

Given the very high temperatures, and for reasons of hygiene and safety, the Municipality of Athens is asking residents and businesses not to put out their rubbish between 11am and 5pm. It is also asking for everyone’s understanding and cooperation in order to avoid disruption in the city and to safeguard public health and worker safety during periods of extreme heat.

The Municipality’s Cleaning and Recycling Department will operate special hours, in line with guidance from senior officials, to ensure the smooth continuation of essential cleaning operations while protecting the health and safety of employees. The special hours will be applied at the discretion of department heads, taking into account each unit’s operational needs, staff and vehicle availability, and the need to keep serving the city without interruption.

“Protecting the health and safety of our employees is an absolute priority for the Department, alongside ensuring the smooth running of cleaning services,” the municipal authority said in a statement, adding that it is advising residents to be particularly careful and to avoid any actions that could cause a fire through negligence.