Stormy southern winds have carried large amounts of fine desert sand from the Sahara to Greece, with the popular holiday islands of Crete and Rhodes particularly affected on Friday.
Many flights needed to be redirected to different Greek airports because of wind gusts reaching force 12 in the region of these vacation islands, as reported by ERTNews, the public broadcaster. Several flights were also canceled.
At the university's report on Friday, the particulate matter measurements in Crete exceeded 250 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
This weather event was marked by exceptionally high temperatures. According to meteorologists reporting on Greek radio, certain parts of Crete recorded temperatures as high as 34 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
In the city of Athens, temperatures climbed to 26 degrees Celsius during the noon hour, leading to reduced visibility. The nearby mountain ranges could hardly be seen.
Physicians advised individuals with breathing conditions to avoid spending extended periods outside. They also recommended steering clear of physically demanding outdoor tasks. Symptoms may arise even when particle levels reach 50 micrograms per cubic meter.
Milder west winds are anticipated to begin this weekend, helping to scatter the particles, according to the meteorological service.
