Skies turn orange as Saharan dust clouds descend blanketing major city

Skies over Athens have turned a striking orange huge thanks to a blast of Saharan dust.

Dust clouds blown across the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa on Tuesday created a brilliant glow across southern Greece, completely blanketing the Acropolis and other famous landmarks. Some likened the new appearance of the landscape to that of Mars.

It was not all pretty scenes however, as health warnings were issued over potential respiratory problems and low air quality. People with certain conditions were urged to limit the time they spend outdoors, avoid exercise and wear protective face masks. In the south of the country, the dust also combined with high temperatures, making it stifling in places.

Dust clouds were seen as far north as Thessaloniki. The red glow is set to be a short-lived phenomenon as skies are predicted to clear on Wednesday, thanks to shifting winds and temperatures dipping.

Seasonal early wildfires have also started early in southern Greece, and the fire service said Tuesday evening that a total 25 wildfires broke out across thenation in the past 24 hours. Three people were arrested on the Aegean Sea resort island of Paros on suspicion of accidentally starting a scrub blaze on Monday, it added. No significant damage or injuries were reported, and the fire was quickly contained.

Another blaze that broke out on Crete near a naval base was brought under control Tuesday. Greece suffers devastating, and often deadly, forest blazes every summer, and last year the country recorded the European Union's largest wildfire in more than two decades. Persistent drought combined with high spring temperatures has raised fears of a particularly challenging period for firefighters in the coming months.

The Sahara releases 60 to 200 million tonnes of mineral dust per year, with concentrations of this occasionally being blown into Europe. In 2022, people were left clearing the desert dust from their windscreens in the south of England after a large plume arrived, turning skies over London an orange colour.