Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Strong winds carrying dust from the Sahara Desert caused the sky to turn an apocalyptic "orange" hue over Athens and other Greek cities on Tuesday.
Locals and tourists alike were astonished by the sight, sharing images and videos of the orange sky on social media platforms. Some described the scene as "apocalyptic" due to its surreal appearance.
The orange sky not only created a striking visual effect but also led to a deterioration in air quality and a spike in temperatures, with some areas experiencing temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius.
The strong southerly winds exacerbated the situation by fanning unseasonal early wildfires in the country's southern regions. Authorities reported a total of 25 wildfires breaking out across Greece in the past 24 hours.
The yellow-orange haze limited visibility and raised concerns about breathing risks, particularly for individuals with underlying health problems. Authorities issued warnings urging caution.
Kostas Lagouvardos, weather research director at the Athens Observatory, described the event as one of the most serious episodes of dust and sand concentrations from the Sahara since 2018.
Authorities cautioned that the dust concentrations could reduce sunlight and increase concentrations of fine pollution particles, posing risks to public health.
Despite the unusual phenomenon, authorities reassured the public that the skies would begin to clear on Wednesday, with the Eastern Mediterranean expected to experience a return of fresher and cleaner air.