Athens turns orange as the wind blows sand from North Africa to the Greek capital. The sky turned orange in Southern Greece on Tuesday as dust clouds over the Mediterranean covered the Acropolis and other Athens landmarks.
Strong winds carry dust from the Sahara Desert, giving the capital’s air a Martian filter in the final hours of the day. On Wednesday the weather will be clear, the wind will change, the dust will disperse and the temperature will drop.
The daily maximum temperature is over 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) higher in the southern part of Crete on Tuesday, over 20 degrees Celsius (36 Fahrenheit) higher in northern Greece. High temperatures in recent days have also contributed to unseasonal fires in the south.
The fire department announced on Tuesday that a total of 25 fires broke out across the country in the last 24 hours. Three people were arrested on suspicion of arson in the Aegean holiday resort of Paros island. The fire, which did not cause any major damage or injuries, was taken under control in a short time. Greece faces the worst and most destructive fires every summer.
Last year the country was hit by the worst fires the EU has experienced in more than two decades. The ongoing drought, combined with the hot spring, has raised concerns about the special challenges firefighters will face in the coming months.
