The Greek government has announced plans to urgently overhaul its water management system as temperatures continue to rise during a week-long heatwave.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that the cabinet discussed measures to make water companies more viable, noting that Athens' water reserves have decreased by 50 percent compared to three years ago.

Additional use of desalination technology and water reuse will be implemented, with Greece ranking 19th globally in terms of drought risk.

The National Observatory of Athens has warned of above-normal drought levels across the country due to high temperatures and low rainfall in June.

To protect visitors and guards, the Acropolis in Athens has been closed during the hottest hours of the day until Friday.

Outdoor work in several sectors has also been banned by the Greek government to minimize health risks.

The heatwave is expected to last until Sunday, with temperatures reaching up to 44.9C in central Greece.

This heatwave comes after Greece experienced its hottest summer on record last year.