In the final hours of daylight, the Greek capital took on a Martian atmosphere due to strong winds bringing dust from the Sahara Desert. Officials in Greece warn that although rising amounts of tiny pollution particles pose health dangers, dust concentrations can restrict sunlight and visibility.
Tuesday saw Athens and other Greek cities blanketed in clouds of dust blown in from the Sahara, one of the worst such events to hit the nation since 2018, according to officials.
Following several days of strong winds from the south, a yellow-orange haze enveloped various places, reducing vision and leading the authorities to issue breathing-risk warnings.
According to Kostas Lagouvardos, head of meteorological research at the Athens Observatory, “it’s one of the most serious episodes of dust and sand concentrations from the Sahara since March 21–22, 2018, when the clouds invaded the island of Crete in particular.”
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In late March and early April, Sahara dust clouds had already engulfed Greece, suffocating portions of Switzerland and southern France as well.
Authorities issued a warning, stating that anyone with underlying health issues may be at danger due to the dust concentrations’ potential to decrease sunlight and visibility while raising concentrations of tiny pollution particles.
Every year, the Sahara emits between 60 and 200 million tonnes of mineral dust. The smallest particles can travel thousands of kilometers and even reach every country in Europe, while the larger particles quickly return to Earth.
According to the Greek weather service, Wednesday would see the start of a clear sky.
In the south of the nation, unseasonal early flames have also been stoked by the strong southerly winds of recent days.
According to the fire service, 25 wildfires have started nationwide in the last 24 hours. This information was released on Tuesday night. It further stated that three people were detained on Monday on the island resort of Paros in the Aegean Sea on suspicion of inadvertently igniting a brush fire. The fire was soon suppressed, and there were no reports of severe damage or injuries.
Another blaze that broke out on Crete near a naval base was brought under control Tuesday.
