The sky above Crete turned red as Saharan dust mixed with storm clouds, while Storm Erminio lashed mainland Greece — leaving one man dead near Athens and widespread disruption. In Crete, the island’s capital Heraklion was covered in red Saharan dust, flights were disrupted and residents wore face masks to avoid inhaling particles as officials warned of sustained severe weather.
Red skies over Crete: a dust plume meets a storm
A surge of dust from North Africa blanketed the Mediterranean island of Crete, turning the atmosphere reddy-orange in places and covering Heraklion in red Saharan dust. The dust arrived as Storm Erminio swept across the region, disrupting flights on the island and prompting local residents and tourists to wear face masks to protect against inhalation. A red weather warning, meaning widespread damage and risk to life are likely, was in place for parts of Crete from midday until late on Thursday night (ET).
Flooding, a fatality and cascading disruptions
On the mainland, Storm Erminio brought heavy rain, gale-force winds and flooding to large parts of Greece. The coastal town of Nea Makri, north-east of Athens, experienced particularly intense downpours overnight and early on Thursday (ET); an unofficial weather station recorded about 50mm falling within just two hours. One man, believed to have been swept away while trying to cross a flooded street and later found trapped under a car, died in Nea Makri. In the Attica region, one weather station near the city’s international airport recorded 132mm in 24 hours.
Emergency responders were heavily engaged: the Greek fire department received 674 calls for assistance from Wednesday through to the early hours of Thursday morning (ET), with the majority in Attica and most calls concerning fallen trees. Flooding also affected infrastructure: the basement of the local police station in Nea Makri was flooded, a bridge was knocked down on the island of Poros, and vehicles were swept away in multiple locations. High winds kept ferries moored in ports while some departures were expected to resume when weather conditions permitted.
What officials and agencies are saying
Greece’s national meteorological service warned of “long-lasting and intense rains and storms” across most parts of the country. The fire department provided the tally of emergency calls and descriptions of the incidents they handled, highlighting the strain on rescue services during the peak of the event. Local authorities placed a red weather warning for western and southern parts of Crete, emphasizing the dual threat of heavy precipitation and airborne dust.
The combined impact of storm conditions and Saharan dust created a compound hazard: while flooding and fallen trees threatened life and property on the mainland, the dust itself prompted public-health precautions on Crete and interrupted travel ahead of a major holiday period. Ferries and flights faced cancellations or delays, and schools in affected areas were closed as a safety measure.
Regional ripple effects and what to watch next
Storm Erminio’s footprint extended beyond Greece in the broader region: heavy rain and strong winds affected southern parts of the Mediterranean and neighbouring countries, contributing to transport and infrastructure disruptions. Within Greece, officials will be monitoring runoff and river levels as additional rainfall combines with prior saturations of soil and urban drainage systems. On Crete, the persistence of airborne particles will determine when travel and outdoor activity can safely resume without protective measures.
As recovery and assessment proceed, important data points — call volumes to emergency services, recorded rainfall totals, and the duration of the dust plume — will shape the immediate operational response and short-term advisories. The image of islands and coastal towns cloaked in red Saharan dust underscores how atmospheric transport can transform a local weather event into a striking visual and public-health concern.
How authorities balance urgent rescue needs, infrastructure repair and public-health guidance while the skies remain red will test emergency coordination in the days ahead — and will determine how quickly communities can move from crisis response to recovery.
