Athens turned orange as winds deposited sand from North Africa on the Greek capital.
The sky over southern Greece took on an orange hue Tuesday as clouds of dust blown over the Mediterranean Sea engulfed the Acropolis and other Athens landmarks.
Strong winds blew dust from the Sahara Desert, giving the capital’s atmosphere a Martian filter in the late hours of daylight.
Skies are expected to clear Wednesday as winds change and move dust, with temperatures dropping.
On Tuesday, the daily maximum in parts of the southern island of Crete exceeded 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), more than 20 C (36 F) higher than temperatures recorded in northern Greece.
Winds in recent days have also fanned unusual wildfires in the south.
Firefighters reported Tuesday that a total of 25 wildfires had broken out across the country in the past 24 hours.
Three people were arrested on the Aegean resort island of Paros on suspicion of accidentally starting a fire in the bushes, the statement said. No significant damage or injuries were reported and the fire was quickly brought under control.
Greece faces devastating and often fatal forest fires every summer. Last year, the country recorded the largest wildfire the European Union has seen in more than two decades.
The persistent drought, combined with high spring temperatures, raises fears of a particularly difficult period for firefighters in the coming months.
