Greece Grapples with African Dust Cloud and Wildfires Amidst Heatwave

09:08 24/4/2024 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

Greece is currently facing twin environmental challenge:: an intense African dust cloud and unseasonal wildfires.

On Tuesday, NASA’s Aqua satellite captured high-resolution images of the dust wave,

known as “Minerva red,” which has significantly degraded air quality and affected those with respiratory conditions, according to the Hellenic Pulmonary Society.

The phenomenon, which varies in frequency and intensity each year, has seen Greece experience between 7 to 20 cases annually. On average, experts say, a total of 13 are counted.

This year’s wave has been particularly severe, with the southern island of Crete recording temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius, exacerbating the situation.

Relief is expected soon, with forecasts predicting clearer skies and cooler temperatures as winds shift on Wednesday. But strong winds have fanned early wildfires across the country, mainly in the south, with a total of 25 reported blazes counted in the last 24 hours. On Paros, three people were arrested for inadvertently starting a fire, while another major blaze near a naval base on Crete was contained.

Greece, which annually battles devastating forest fires, recorded the European Union’s largest wildfire in over two decades last year. Plagued by drought and high temperatures, experts fear more forest fires in upcoming summer months.

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