ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Skies over southern Greece turned an orange hue on Tuesday as dust clouds blown across the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa engulfed the Acropolis and other Athens landmarks.
Strong southerly winds carried the dust from the Sahara Desert, giving the atmosphere of the Greek capital a Martian-like filter in the last hours of daylight.
The skies are predicted to clear on Wednesday as winds shift and move the dust, with temperatures dipping. On Tuesday, the daily high in parts of the southern island of Crete topped 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), more than 20 degrees C higher than what was registered in much of northern Greece.
The strong southerly winds over the past few days have also fanned unseasonal early wildfires in the country’s south.
The fire service said Tuesday evening that a total 25 wildfires broke out across the country in the past 24 hours. Three people were arrested on the Aegean Sea resort island of Paros on suspicion of accidentally starting a scrub blaze on Monday, it added. No significant damage or injuries were reported, and the fire was quickly contained.
Ricky Stenhouse punching Kyle Busch could lead to suspension
I masterminded the plot to blow up Lord Mountbatten: Ex
Loose Women star Kaye Adams reveals she was groped by her boss in front of her laughing co
Death toll from south Brazil's climate disaster hits 151
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Justin Rose is back in the mix at a major following a brilliant 7
Pakistan asks its nationals studying in Kyrgyzstan to stay indoors after mobs attacked foreigners
What a blast to work at NASA. Space agency is sky
The stuff that Coppola’s dreams are made of: The director on building ‘Megalopolis’
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Tyson Fury flies into rage after being separated from Oleksandr Usyk at heated weigh