A HUGE cloud of Saharan dust has engulfed Cyprus, as the Brit holiday hotspot was hit with a red weather warning.
Storm Erminio is battering as the Easter bank holiday kicks off, disappointing tourists who had jetted off in search of a sunny holiday.
A thick carpet of dust settles over the capital in Nicosia, CyprusCredit: Reuters
The dust lifted up from the Sahara desert before blowing over to the Mediterranean islandCredit: Reuters
Residents and tourists are warned to stay inside because of harmful inhalable particles in the cloudCredit: AP
Huge amounts of dust lifted up from Saharan Africa and were blown across the Mediterranean towards the island popular with Brit holidaymakers and expats.
The choking cloud of Saharan dust as it smothered the Greek island of Crete.
Dramatic pictures capture how its atmosphere turned unsettling hues of red and orange.
A dramatic storm grounded flights and battered the coast with violent winds, even unleashing a just days before the Easter break.
The massive dust cloud was then pushed further east across the Mediterranean towards Cyprus.
It hit Paphos first, before covering the entire island.
The dense white cloud of dust that fills Cyprus’ usually bright blue sky has led authorities to urge residents and holidaymakers to stay inside.
Vulnerable groups including children and the elderly are particularly encouraged to avoid open spaces, as the dust contains small inhalable harmful particles.
Levels of dangerous dust are reportedly more than 40 times higher than safe legal levels.
One meteorological expert told Philenews: ‘This is considered extreme.
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that episodes this strong are recorded once every ten years.”
The cloud is expected to continue to hang low over the island with high winds and rough seas expected.
It may even increase in intensity on Saturday as the cloud is expected to remain in the skies all weekend.
Crete’s Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, was hit by travel chaos earlier this week, when visibility plunged to dangerously low levels.
The city of Heraklion, Crete, covered in red dust coming from AfricaCredit: EPA
A blood-orange atmosphere has swallowed the streets of CreteCredit: Reuters
The dramatic storm has battered the coast with violent windsCredit: AFP
At least three international flights due to land in the holiday hotspot were unable to touch down and were forced to divert to other airports including Athens, Corfu and Chania.
Among them was a service from London which was rerouted to Corfu after conditions became too dangerous to land.
It comes as Italy suffers extreme and huge landslides
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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