African dust cloud engulfs Heraklion in Crete

The news in Greek

1. σύννεφο  (n.)
   μάζα από πολύ μικρά σταγονίδια νερού ή παγάκια ψηλά στον ουρανό ↩︎
2. αφρικανικός
   που έχει σχέση με την Αφρική ή προέρχεται από την Αφρική ↩︎
3. ορατότητα  (f.)
   το πόσο μακριά μπορεί κανείς να δει καθαρά ↩︎
4. θολός
   που δεν είναι καθαρό, δεν φαίνεται καλά ↩︎
5. βαρύς
   που δίνει αίσθηση βάρους ή δυσφορίας, δύσκολο και πιεστικό ↩︎
6. ευαίσθητος
   που επηρεάζεται εύκολα από κάτι, που χρειάζεται ιδιαίτερη προσοχή ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What happened to the color of the sky in Heraklion when the African dust cloud arrived?

Question 2: What did experts tell sensitive groups of people to do during the dust cloud?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
σύννεφο  (n.)	cloud
αφρικανικός	African
ορατότητα  (f.)	visibility
θολός	blurry
βαρύς	heavy
ευαίσθητος	sensitive

Read the full story

The Cretan city of Heraklion experienced a striking weather event when a dense cloud of African dust arrived on Thursday night, spreading across the urban area and surrounding roads. Local media published images that quickly circulated online, showing the city under an unusual orange-brown sky.

According to reports, the dust transported from Northern Africa formed a thick layer of particles in the atmosphere. Visibility was significantly reduced, and the lights of cars and street lamps appeared blurred and dim through the haze. Journalists on the Northern Road Axis of Crete described the scene as highly unusual, with the landscape almost disappearing behind the suspended dust.

Residents reported that the air felt heavy and difficult to breathe, especially in open areas and on busy roads. Some local outlets compared the scenery to a desert, noting that the usual view of the sea and the city’s landmarks was mostly hidden. Others emphasised the strong visual impact of the event, which led to many photos and videos being shared on social media platforms.

Meteorological services in Greece regularly monitor such dust intrusions from the Sahara region, which are a recurring phenomenon in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly in spring. During these episodes, experts typically advise people with respiratory problems, as well as children and older adults, to limit outdoor activities, close windows, and, when necessary, use protective masks to reduce exposure to fine particles.

On Friday morning the dust was still present over Heraklion, and local reports stated that the city remained largely covered by the dusty veil. While no major incidents were reported, the authorities and residents were waiting for changes in wind and weather conditions to gradually clear the atmosphere and restore normal visibility.

For language learners and observers abroad, this event illustrates how transboundary weather and climate phenomena can affect daily life in Greece, from driving conditions and outdoor work to tourism and public health recommendations, even on an island usually associated with clear skies and bright sunlight.

Info: ‘Greek Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Greek’, a language school dedicated to teaching Greek through various types of online courses, where we regularly share guidance on topics such as how to learn Greek fast. Our aim is to provide clear, practical information to help learners develop their skills in a structured and sustainable way.