Sacks of garbage piled high on the sidewalks of Athens have started spewing out onto the streets after a part of the capital’s main dump collapsed and waste trucks stopped collecting.
More than 2,500 thousand tons of garbage are being left every day on the streets of Athens and health officials warn that this, coupled with high temperatures, may pose a risk to public health.
The dump at Fyli, west of Athens, has been closed for more than a week as repair crews work overtime to repair the site.
Experts warn it may take up to two weeks before the dump becomes fully operational.
Mayor Giorgos Kaminis called on residents to be patient and asked them to keep refuse at home.
He said the authorities were trying to collect the trash from busy tourist areas and outside hospitals.