Over 13 tons of garbage were collected by 6,500 volunteers from Greek beaches and the seabed in 145 cleaning operations, HELMEPA (Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association) announced on Friday. The organisation had coordinated the beach clean-ups for 29th year in Greece, in the context of the International Beach Cleaning Volunteer Day.

Athenians are in for difficult week as mounds of garbage are piling up in the capital of Greece, while temperatures are expected to soar to over 43 degrees Celsius in the week ahead, causing serious public health risks.

As a heatwave is forecast to hit Greece next week and amid more rubbish piling across Athens, the conditions in the Greek capital are expected to get even worse as the Federation of workers in the Municipalities and local communities of Greece (POE-PTA) have decided to suspend all activities in light of the ongoing strike of garbage collectors.