The strong winds also fueled unusually early wildfires in the south of the country.
Strong winds carrying dust from the Sahara desert turned the sky an apocalyptic “orange” over Athens and other Greek cities on Tuesday. Social media was flooded with orange images of the Greek capital, as locals and tourists alike were baffled by the phenomenon. One user posted a video of their windshield covered in sand, while another branded the scene as “apocalyptic” as they posted footage of their surroundings to X (formerly Twitter).
It is currently apocalyptic in Athens. Please note, no filter used. pic.twitter.com/YMTWKnVA6P
— Elly Vintiadis (@EllyVintiadis) April 23, 2024
According to SkyNewsThe orange sky over Greece deteriorated air quality and caused temperatures to rise. Officials said this was one of the worst incidents since 2018. On Tuesday, the daily maximum temperature in parts of the southern island of Crete reached 30 degrees Celsius, more than 20 degrees Celsius. degrees higher than what was recorded in much of northern Greece.
Strong southerly winds also fueled unusually early bushfires in the south of the country. Fire officials say a total of 25 wildfires have broken out across the country in the past 24 hours. In addition, police reportedly said three people were arrested on the Aegean Sea resort island of Paros on suspicion of accidentally starting a fire on Monday.
Also read | Video: 2 horses run loose on busy roads in London, surrounded by police
The yellow-orange haze limited visibility and prompted warnings from authorities about respiratory risks. The guard reported. “It is one of the most severe episodes of Saharan dust and sand concentrations since March 21 and 22, 2018, when clouds mainly entered the island of Crete,” said Kostas Lagouvardos, director of weather research at the Athens Observatory.
Authorities warned that the dust levels could reduce sunlight and increase concentrations of fine pollutants, posing risks to people with underlying health conditions. The Greek weather service said the sky would start to clear on Wednesday.
An
🚨🇬🇷 Athens, Greece 23/04/2024
“What’s going on – I’ve never seen this – It’s all orange – the sun should be there” pic.twitter.com/kQWT26OOOX
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) April 23, 2024
“Yes, I witnessed the strangest sky over Athens yesterday,” said another.
Yes, I witnessed the strangest sky over Athens yesterday pic.twitter.com/m8zvkACwA0
— Electric KC⚡️ (@EKC_DAO) April 24, 2024
As the week progresses, the eastern Mediterranean will experience a return of fresher and cleaner air, along with temperatures closer to normal for this time of year, authorities said.
