ATHENS: A thick, dramatic orange haze blankets Athens as Sahara desert dust sweeps in, marking one of Greece’s worst episodes since 2018. Similar clouds had already hit Greece, Switzerland, and southern France earlier in March and April.
The weather service forecasts clearing skies by Wednesday. Air quality plummets, obscuring the Acropolis and extending as far north as Thessaloniki. Those with respiratory conditions are advised to stay indoors and wear masks until the dust settles.
Annually, the Sahara releases millions of tons of dust, some of which travel to Europe, contributing to stifling conditions exacerbated by high temperatures. Meteorologist Kostas Lagouvardos likened the scene to Mars, as wildfires flare across Greece, including one near a naval base on Crete, necessitating evacuations amidst scorching temperatures exceeding 30C(86F).
