Athens continues to face extreme temperatures as a powerful heatwave grips the city. In a striking visual captured on Wednesday morning, a drone equipped with a thermal camera recorded ground-level temperatures reaching up to 53°C (127.4°F) above the Attiko Alsos area in Galatsi, a northern suburb of the Greek capital.
The footage, broadcast live during the ERT program Syndeseis, was captured at 8:45 a.m., offering a real-time snapshot of the city’s escalating thermal conditions well before midday.
A Scorching Cityscape
The drone’s thermal imaging system revealed a stark contrast in ground temperatures. Cooler zones, primarily shaded or vegetated areas, registered in dark blue, indicating surface temperatures between 30°C and 35°C. In contrast, more exposed areas, such as roads and urban surfaces, appeared in green and orange hues, with readings climbing to 40°C and beyond.
Most alarming were isolated hot spots where the apparent surface temperature soared to 53°C — a level of heat that significantly raises health concerns for vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with preexisting medical conditions.
Technology Highlighting Urban Heat
The use of drones with thermal cameras offers crucial insight into how heat is distributed across urban environments. These real-time thermal maps can help identify areas at greater risk during heatwaves, highlighting the importance of green zones like Attiko Alsos in mitigating the so-called “urban heat island” effect — a phenomenon where dense cities trap heat due to concrete and asphalt surfaces.
