Shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain – because of large amounts of Saharan dust in the air, more people in Athens presented themselves to hospital emergency rooms than usual. Doctors also sounded the alarm on the island of Crete and in the city of Kalamata: There were many people there The newspaper “To Proto Thema” reported that cases were turned to pulmonologists.
Experts had already warned about the weather situation and, in particular, advised people with respiratory diseases and allergies not to spend time outdoors. The Greek Pulmonology Association said the African dust contained even the smallest particles that could penetrate deep into the lungs. The dust is also associated with cardiovascular diseases.
As the day progressed, the sky over Athens turned a deep red because of the dust and, in addition to difficulty breathing, also created a dim, oppressive atmosphere.
