It's Greece… although it looks like Mars: a dense tongue of dust from the Sahara turns the country orange and leaves scenes from a movie

A massive plume of Sahara dust swept through the city of Athens and other southern regions of Greece on Tuesday, blanketing the area in an eerie orange hue. This unusual phenomenon, caused by suspended dust particles originating from Africa, is expected to gradually dissipate starting Wednesday, according to local newspaper Ekathimerini.

Confirming the event, Greece’s Meteorological Service revealed that although the frequency and intensity of such dust storms can vary, the country experiences an average of 13 episodes each year.

As social media images illustrate, the capital city of Athens was engulfed in yellowish and orange tones due to the high concentration of particles. Authorities have cautioned individuals with respiratory conditions about the potential health risks associated with the phenomenon.