Overview
- A dense cloud of Sahara dust turned the sky over Crete orange and blanketed major cities in a thick haze.
- Visibility at Heraklion’s Nikos Kazantzakis Airport dropped to about 600 meters, and three incoming flights diverted to Athens, Corfu and Chania.
- Health officials urged residents to stay indoors with windows shut and to wear masks outside due to hazardous air.
- A thin layer of sand settled on roads, buildings and cars across the island, slowing daily routines and outdoor activity.
- Strong winds and rain from Cyclone Erminio led to school closures and ferry suspensions in Greece, with hundreds of assistance calls and one man found dead under a car reported on Crete.