Sky turns red as Saharan dust storm sweeps across Greek islands

Crete’s skies turned red as a cloud of Saharan dust swept over the Greek island, transforming a destination known for clear blue weather into a scene marked by thick haze ahead of the Easter holidays.

The dust was carried in by a powerful storm from Africa, while severe weather also hit other parts of Greece with strong winds and flooding. Authorities said one person was killed near Athens after being found under a car in the rural area of Nea Makri early Thursday.

Santorini was also covered by the red dust, disrupting daily life on the island. In Crete, Storm Erminio led to flight cancellations on Wednesday.

Greece’s national meteorological service said stormy conditions were expected to continue on Thursday across much of the country, with prolonged and intense rain, thunderstorms and possible local hail.

Authorities issued a red warning for parts of Crete, especially western and southern areas, from midday until late Thursday night. Climate experts have linked Greece’s repeated episodes of destructive flooding to rising global temperatures.