On April 1, thick clouds of dust from the Sahara desert covered the skies of Greece again, especially the capital Athens and Thessalonika - the country's second largest city, with temperatures rising to 31 degrees Celsius.
Last week, dust storms also hit Greece and other regions, including Switzerland and southern France, leaving many people struggling to breathe. Temperatures in the capital Athens are forecast to reach 26 degrees Celsius on April 1. That is similar to May temperatures, according to state broadcaster ERT. Meanwhile, temperatures in the southern Peleponnese and on the island of Euboea near Athens are forecast to reach 31 degrees Celsius.
Stamatoula Tsikrikas, president of the Greek Respiratory Society, advised asthmatics and other vulnerable people to avoid outdoor activities and strenuous physical work. The Greek Respiratory Society warned that dust can combine with pollen, bacteria and fungi, creating a highly toxic mixture that is dangerous to humans. Vulnerable people should therefore wear masks and sunglasses.
Thick dust has also caused some flights to be delayed or cancelled in Thessalonika. The weather agency predicts that temperatures may start to drop from April 3.