Strong southerly winds have carried vast quantities of sand from the Sahara towards the Greek islands. A severe weather warning is in place, including in other parts of the country.
Anyone spending Easter in Greece should be prepared for stormy weather. Severe storms have caused extensive damage in Greece and claimed at least one life. The southern Aegean and the region around Athens have been particularly hard hit. In addition to heavy rain and gale-force winds, there is also a high concentration of Saharan dust in the air, as reported by Greek radio.
In the Sahara, the wind can blow so strongly that it whips up huge quantities of sand from the ground and carries it high into the air. The dust remains up there – at altitudes of between two and seven kilometres, and sometimes even up to ten kilometres, depending on weather conditions. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), it can float in the thin air there for months without falling. Under certain weather conditions, the wind carries the dust as far as Europe.
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Relief on Good Friday
In Crete and on the Cyclades islands of Santorini, Naxos and Mykonos, the sky has turned red due to Saharan dust. Strong southerly winds have carried the sand from the desert to these areas. Meteorologists are forecasting further heavy rain, thunderstorms and localised hail. A severe weather warning is in place for Crete. Conditions are not expected to ease until Friday evening.
On Rhodes, the fire brigade was called out more than 50 times, mainly to deal with fallen trees. Power lines, street lamps and boats were also damaged. The civil defence agency sent text messages to residents and tourists urging them to limit their movements. Flooding occurred in a suburb of Athens. One man lost his life after being swept away by floodwaters and trapped under a car.
Ferry services were suspended in many parts of the country. At least ten flights to Rhodes were cancelled or diverted on Wednesday, but air traffic is now largely back to normal.
Dust from the Sahara also reaches Germany time and again. It is not toxic, but the tiny particles can penetrate the lungs. Experts advise that athletes should not exert themselves outdoors for hours on end when Saharan dust is present – especially if they have pre-existing conditions. The dust can also exacerbate allergies.
