People stroll while African dust covers the sky of Athens, Greece, 23 April 2024. According to the National Observatory of Athens, the atmospheric circulation over Greece favors the transfer of warm air masses from Africa to Greece, resulting in very high temperatures and the transfer of significant amounts of Saharan dust. EPA / GEORGE VITSARAS
People stroll while African dust covers the sky of Athens, Greece, 23 April 2024. According to the National Observatory of Athens, the atmospheric circulation over Greece favors the transfer of warm air masses from Africa to Greece, resulting in very high temperatures and the transfer of significant amounts of Saharan dust. EPA / GEORGE VITSARAS
Saharan dust covers the Temple of Apollo in Corinth, Greece. EPA
Saharan dust covers the Temple of Apollo in Corinth, Greece. EPA
A couple sit on Tourkovounia hill, as southerly winds carry waves of Saharan dust, in Athens. AFP
A couple sit on Tourkovounia hill, as southerly winds carry waves of Saharan dust, in Athens. AFP
Taking a stroll in the Greek capital during the dust storm. EPA
Taking a stroll in the Greek capital during the dust storm. EPA
People gather around the Acropolis area. EPA
People gather around the Acropolis area. EPA
A man takes a photograph of the city of Athens from Tourkovounia hill. The yellow-orange haze smothered several regions, limiting visibility and prompting warnings of breathing risks from the authorities. AFP
A man takes a photograph of the city of Athens from Tourkovounia hill. The yellow-orange haze smothered several regions, limiting visibility and prompting warnings of breathing risks from the authorities. AFP
Persistent drought and high spring temperatures have raised fears of a particularly challenging period for firefighters in the coming months. EPA
Persistent drought and high spring temperatures have raised fears of a particularly challenging period for firefighters in the coming months. EPA
The skies were predicted to clear within a day as winds shift and move the dust, with temperatures dipping. EPA
The skies were predicted to clear within a day as winds shift and move the dust, with temperatures dipping. EPA

News

Europe

Athens sky turns orange from Sahara dust

Landmarks in Greece's capital engulfed by dust clouds as wildfires spread

Mona Farag
Mona Farag

April 24, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic

Skies over southern Greece turned orange on Tuesday as dust clouds blown from North Africa covered Athens' landmarks.

Strong southerly winds carried dust from the Sahara resulting in the orange hue, and have also stirred up wildfires in the country's south.

A low-pressure system over northern Africa swept dust over Cyprus several times in mid-April, “darkening skies and reducing air quality,” Nasa said.

Read more

Are wildfires a sign of things to come as climate change intensifies?

The Greek meteorological service said weather on Tuesday had favoured the movement of dust from Africa and this was showing up in “increased concentrations in the atmosphere,” particularly in the south of the country.

Daily peak temperatures in parts of the southern island of Crete topped 30 degrees Celsius, more than 20 degrees higher than what was registered in much of northern Greece.

The fire service said on Tuesday evening that 25 wildfires broke out across the country 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 on Tuesday.

The skies are predicted to clear on Wednesday, as winds shift and move the dust, with temperatures dipping.

A forest fire burns near Vati village, on the island of Rhodes. AP
A forest fire burns near Vati village, on the island of Rhodes. AP
Firefighters watch as a forest fire reignites in Spain's Caldera de Taburiente national park. EPA
Firefighters watch as a forest fire reignites in Spain's Caldera de Taburiente national park. EPA
A man lifts a tile from underneath the frame of a burnt bed after a forest fire raced through the Tunisian town of Melloula. AFP
A man lifts a tile from underneath the frame of a burnt bed after a forest fire raced through the Tunisian town of Melloula. AFP
A firefighter tries to extinguish a blaze near the village of Asklipieio, on the Greek island of Rhodes. Reuters
A firefighter tries to extinguish a blaze near the village of Asklipieio, on the Greek island of Rhodes. Reuters
A plane dumps water over a wildfire on Ciovo island, Croatia. AP
A plane dumps water over a wildfire on Ciovo island, Croatia. AP
Residents of Gennadi village stand near a forest fire raging on the island of Rhodes. AP
Residents of Gennadi village stand near a forest fire raging on the island of Rhodes. AP
People are evacuated by boat as they flee a fire burning near the Greek town of Nea Anchialos. EPA
People are evacuated by boat as they flee a fire burning near the Greek town of Nea Anchialos. EPA
A petrol station destroyed by a forest fire in the Italian town of Oliveri. AFP
A petrol station destroyed by a forest fire in the Italian town of Oliveri. AFP
A man watches as a house burns in the Tono district of Messina, Sicily. AFP
A man watches as a house burns in the Tono district of Messina, Sicily. AFP
The fire destroyed homes and cars in Oliveri. AFP
The fire destroyed homes and cars in Oliveri. AFP
A firefighter is overwhelmed as he looks at the trail of destruction in Messina, Sicily. AFP
A firefighter is overwhelmed as he looks at the trail of destruction in Messina, Sicily. AFP
A fire burns a forested area of Alto do Alvide, Portugal. EPA
A fire burns a forested area of Alto do Alvide, Portugal. EPA
A forest fire burns in Valsequillo, Spain. EPA
A forest fire burns in Valsequillo, Spain. EPA
Calves try to escape the fire in Sesklo village, Greece. EPA
Calves try to escape the fire in Sesklo village, Greece. EPA
Farmers try to save their animals as the fire approaches Sesklo village. EPA
Farmers try to save their animals as the fire approaches Sesklo village. EPA
A firefighter tackles a blaze outside the village of Vati, Greece. Getty
A firefighter tackles a blaze outside the village of Vati, Greece. Getty
A woman salvages produce from a building gutted by a forest fire near the town of Melloula, Tunisia. AFP
A woman salvages produce from a building gutted by a forest fire near the town of Melloula, Tunisia. AFP
Residents block a street as they demand the restoration water supplies in Melloula, following recent heatwaves and a forest fire in the area. AFP
Residents block a street as they demand the restoration water supplies in Melloula, following recent heatwaves and a forest fire in the area. AFP
Algerians gather next to vehicles destroyed by wildfires in Bouira, 100km from the capital, Algiers. AP
Algerians gather next to vehicles destroyed by wildfires in Bouira, 100km from the capital, Algiers. AP
A fire engine moves along a road as a forest fire rages near the Tunisian town of Melloula, close to the border with Algeria. AFP
A fire engine moves along a road as a forest fire rages near the Tunisian town of Melloula, close to the border with Algeria. AFP
A man and his children inspect the damage to their house after a fire raced through the Algerian village of De Oeud Das. EPA
A man and his children inspect the damage to their house after a fire raced through the Algerian village of De Oeud Das. EPA
Houses damaged by the forest fires in De Oeud Das village. EPA
Houses damaged by the forest fires in De Oeud Das village. EPA
Residents try to extinguish a fire in Tunisia's coastal town of Tabarka amid a blistering heatwave. AFP
Residents try to extinguish a fire in Tunisia's coastal town of Tabarka amid a blistering heatwave. AFP
A fireman holds a cat and two rabbits after rescuing them from a fire on the Greek island of Rhodes. AFP
A fireman holds a cat and two rabbits after rescuing them from a fire on the Greek island of Rhodes. AFP
German tourists and local residents try to extinguish a fire near the seaside resort of Lindos. AP
German tourists and local residents try to extinguish a fire near the seaside resort of Lindos. AP
Smoke rises on Corfu following a wildfire. Reuters
Smoke rises on Corfu following a wildfire. Reuters
Tourists wait for departing planes at the airport on the island of Rhodes, after being evacuated. Reuters
Tourists wait for departing planes at the airport on the island of Rhodes, after being evacuated. Reuters
A large forest fire on the Greek island of Rhodes has forced authorities to order an evacuation of four locations. AP
A large forest fire on the Greek island of Rhodes has forced authorities to order an evacuation of four locations. AP
A man carries a child as they leave an area where a forest fire burns. AP
A man carries a child as they leave an area where a forest fire burns. AP
A fire engine is parked in front of a blaze raging in New Peramos, near Athens. AFP
A fire engine is parked in front of a blaze raging in New Peramos, near Athens. AFP
A helicopter works to extinguish a wildfire, in the area of Pico de las Nieves, on the Canary Island of Gran Canaria, Spain. Reuters
A helicopter works to extinguish a wildfire, in the area of Pico de las Nieves, on the Canary Island of Gran Canaria, Spain. Reuters
A firefighters' operations room in Marseille, France. AFP
A firefighters' operations room in Marseille, France. AFP
Smoke billows from a house on fire in the Aci Catena area, 20km from Catania. Getty
Smoke billows from a house on fire in the Aci Catena area, 20km from Catania. Getty

The eastern Mediterranean country of Cyprus has also been affected by the dust.

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. The destructive blaze destroyed 378,381 hectares of land – more than double the predicted damage.

EU spokesman Balazs Ujvari said at the time that it was “the largest in the EU since 2000, when the European Forest Fire Information System began recording data”.

Global warming has helped fuel larger and more destructive blazes. The 2023 wildfires caused huge economic disruption in key holiday regions, such as Rhodes and Crete.

The wildfires have cost Europe an estimated €4.1 billion ($4.43 billion) so far in 2023, fuelled by extreme heat that has seared the Mediterranean from Greece to Spain.

Persistent drought, combined with high spring temperatures, has raised fears of an upcoming challenging period for firefighters this summer.

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  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
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  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

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  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
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  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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