A yellow-orange haze of dust from the Sahara desert has swept across parts of Greece, creating striking visuals and prompting health advisories.
The Greek meteorological service attributed the phenomenon to favourable weather conditions on Tuesday that facilitated the movement of dust from Africa, resulting in heightened concentrations in the atmosphere, particularly in the southern regions of Greece.
The dust was expected to gradually diminish by Wednesday morning, becoming confined to the eastern areas later in the day.
Videos and images shared online depicted Athenians observing the unusual yellow-orange fog from vantage points near the city.
Social media posts showcased the surreal scenes, with Greek Meteorologist Kostas Lagouvardos comparing Athens to “a colony of Mars” due to the unusual atmospheric appearance.
This occurrence of dust clouds originating from northern Africa impacting Greece and neighboring regions is intermittent but not uncommon, leading to reduced visibility and respiratory concerns.
Cyprus, situated in the eastern Mediterranean, also experienced similar dust incursions in mid-April, resulting in darkened skies and compromised air quality, as confirmed by NASA’s observations from the Terra satellite. NASA anticipates continued dust migration across the Mediterranean, affecting both Cyprus and Greece in the coming days.
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Sources:
Ekaterina_Zaeva TikTok
Shona TikTok
