The skies over southern Greece turned a stunning shade of orange on Tuesday, as dust clouds from North Africa swept across the Mediterranean Sea. The iconic Acropolis and other Athens landmarks were shrouded in a rust-colored haze, giving the city an otherworldly appearance reminiscent of Mars.
The unusual phenomenon was caused by strong southerly winds carrying dust from the Sahara Desert, creating an eerie atmosphere in the Greek capital. Weather experts predicted that the skies would clear on Wednesday as winds shifted and temperatures began to dip. On Tuesday, temperatures soared to a high of 86°F in some parts of the country, well above the seasonal average.
The strong winds also fueled unseasonably early wildfires in southern Greece, with a total of 25 blazes reported in the 24 hours leading up to the dust storm. Three individuals were arrested on suspicion of starting a scrub fire on the island of Paros, while firefighters successfully contained another blaze near a naval base on Crete.
With Greece facing a challenging fire season due to ongoing drought and high temperatures, authorities are ramping up preparations for the summer months. Multi-agency fire drills are being conducted to improve response times and coordination between military and local authorities.
As the country braces for potential wildfires, the Psalm 148:7-8 verse serves as a reminder of the power of nature: “Praise the Lord from the Earth . . . fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling His word!” Despite the challenges ahead, Greece remains resilient in the face of natural disasters.