Health warning issued as sky turns orange at European holiday hotspot

Posted by Admin April 25, 2024 World

There have been eery scenes at a European holiday hotspot that is hugely popular with British tourists.

Athens has been bathed in an orange glow thanks to a massive dust cloud from the Sahara that descended on the city. The dust, carried across the Mediterranean from North Africa, blanketed famous landmarks such as the Acropolis, transforming the landscape into a Martian-like vista.

However, the spectacle came with a health warning as authorities cautioned against potential respiratory issues and poor air quality. Those with certain health conditions were advised to limit their time outside, refrain from exercising and wear face masks.

Another fire that erupted near a naval base on Crete was successfully contained on Tuesday. Greece is no stranger to devastating and often fatal forest fires every summer, with the country experiencing the European Union‘s largest wildfire in over two decades last year.

The dust also exacerbated high temperatures in the south, making conditions uncomfortably hot.

The phenomenon reached as far north as Thessaloniki but is expected to be short-lived, with clearer skies forecast for Wednesday due to shifting winds and falling temperatures.

Meanwhile, Greece’s fire service reported that 25 wildfires had broken out nationwide in the past 24 hours, with three people arrested on suspicion of accidentally starting a blaze on the Aegean resort island of Paros. No significant damage or injuries were reported, and the fire was quickly contained.

The combination of persistent drought and high spring temperatures has sparked concerns of a particularly difficult period for firefighters in the upcoming months.

The Sahara desert annually releases between 60 to 200 million tonnes of mineral dust, with some of it occasionally being carriedinto Europe. In 2022, residents in southern England found themselves having to clean desert dust off their car windscreens after a large plume arrived, casting an orange hue over London’s skies.