Athens turns orange! Haze envelops city as Sahara dust storm blocks sunlight
People sit on Tourkovounia hill overlooking the city of Athens covered in orange haze.
Athens turned orange on Tuesday (April 24) as a rare haze enveloped the Greek capital city due to a Sahara dust storm. Greek authorities warned that sunlight and visibility are likely to be reduced due to dust concentrations, while levels of fine pollution particles can increase and pose health risks.
Athens was not the only city which was covered by the orange haze. Other Greek cities were also covered in clouds of dust which blew from the Sahara. As per the officials, this is one of the worst such sandstorms to have hit the country since 2018.
Several regions were smothered by a yellow-orange haze after strong winds blew for days from the south and caused limited visibility.
The conditions also prompted warnings of breathing risks from the authorities.
Athens Observatory weather research director Kostas Lagouvardos said, “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."
Sahara dust clouds particles to travel to Europe
In late March and early April, Greece was struck by Sahara dust clouds which also hit parts of southern France and Switzerland.
Every year, the Sahara releases mineral dust of 60 to 200 million tonnes. Even though the largest particles rapidly settle down on earth, the smallest particles are likely to travel thousands of kilometres and may also reachEurope.
The Greek weather service stated that it is likely that the skies will become clearer on Wednesday (Apr 24).
Unseasonal early wildfireshave also been fanned by the strong southerly winds in the past few days in the country’s south.
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On Tuesday (Apr 23), the fire service stated that a total of 25 wildfires broke out in the past 24 hours across the country.
Police have arrested three people on the Aegean Sea resort island of Paros after they were suspected of accidentally starting a scrub blaze on Monday (Apr 22), said the officials.
No injuries or significant damage was reported so far and the firefighters quickly contained the fire. Meanwhile, the firefighters also brought under control another blaze which broke out on Crete near a naval base on Tuesday (Apr 23).
(With inputs from agencies)