Shipyard workers stopped their operations in Perama (16 km/10 miles) south of Athens on Friday, as the Mediterranean nation was stricken by a heatwave that is now the third longest this summer.

Temperatures in the west reached a high of 44 degrees Celsius on Friday ahead of Sunday's predicted drop.

The conditions were particularly tough for those who built and repaired vessels at the Piraeus port authority's repair area, as they worked in the heat of the sun and near the flames from welding tools.

The last few summers were very challenging. "The last few summers have been very difficult," Danil Polatsidis said, an electrician in the Perama shipyard.

Akis Antoniou is the president of the Piraeus Metal Workers' Union. He said that workers are often exposed to temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius due to the equipment and materials used for repairs.

Greece has banned outdoor work from midday to 5pm for workers in shipyards, builders, couriers, and other areas. The president of the Perama Shipbuilding and Repair Zone, Vasilis Kanakakis, stressed the need to adapt to the increasing temperatures.

Kannakakis stated, "These temperatures are something that we will have to learn to deal with in the future." "This means that we must adapt to the heat in a way that does not strain workers, but still allows them to produce the required products and be reliable with our time and commitments."

Heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent in Greece. Scientists attribute this to the rapid climate change. (Reporting and writing by LouizaVradi; Editing by AntonisPothitos)

(source: Reuters)