Full story
Saharan Dust Chokes Crete
Crete was enveloped in thick Saharan dust that turned the skies red-orange.
“The island of Crete is seeing red - thanks to a cloud of Saharan dust”
Storm Erminio brought heavy rain, gale-force winds, and flooding throughout Greece.
Heraklion Airport was effectively shut down as flights were diverted.
Residents wore face masks to protect against the suffocating dust.
Storm Kills Man Near Athens
A man was swept away by floodwaters near Athens and found trapped under a car.
The storm forced school closures and knocked down a bridge on Poros.
The fire department received 674 calls for assistance.
A red weather warning was in place in Crete.
Widespread Infrastructure Disruptions
Ferries were moored and traffic gridlock affected Athens.
“Heraklion International Airport has been effectively shut down”
Emergency crews were inundated with calls on Rhodes and Kos.
The Canary Islands faced flight cancellations due to the same dust storm.
Aegean and Olympic Air grounded multiple island routes.
Mediterranean Cyclone Brings Multi-Nation Impact
Storm Erminio was one of the most violent meteorological episodes in decades.
The system impacted Italy, Greece, and North Africa simultaneously.
Historic early-April snowfall hit the Italian Apennines.
Cold polar air brought plummeting temperatures to Algeria and Tunisia.