A powerful wave of African dust from the Sahara Desert blanketed the Greek island of Crete, painting the sky orange-red. The storm hit the Heraklion area the hardest, with visibility dropping to 1,000 meters, RBK reports.

The worsening weather conditions caused disruptions to air travel: three international flights were diverted to other airports. Furthermore, Heraklion experienced widespread power outages due to the strong winds that accompanied the storm.

According to the air quality monitoring station in the Rethymno region, the concentration of suspended particles in the atmosphere has reached record levels – over 1000 micrograms per cubic meter, which is double the level of 500 μg/m³ considered extremely high and dangerous to health.

Forecasters predict the storm will peak around midday on April 2, after which it will begin to weaken and subside by April 3. However, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in the western and southern parts of the island, and landslides are possible.

Medical professionals have urged residents and tourists to exercise caution due to dangerous levels of dust in the air. Special recommendations are issued to people with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, children, and individuals over 65: they are advised to limit outdoor physical activity and avoid travel if possible, especially during rush hour.