City offers cool venues for citizens, water for strays

The City of Athens and other municipal authorities around the country said yesterday that they will keep community centers and other air-conditioned facilities open all day from today to offer citizens protection from the heat wave, for as long as it lasts. Meteorologists have warned that temperatures are expected to rise steadily over the coming days, hitting 43 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country near the end of the week and on the weekend. The City of Athens has also placed water dispensers at 35 key locations around the capital to ensure that its stray dogs and cats can stay hydrated. They have been placed in key locations by the municipal authority, which has asked that residents or visitors help keep them filled with fresh, clean water.