Crete's blue skies turn blood red as Saharan dust storm hits

Crete, a globally known island for its blue skies, has turned the skies red as a cloud of Saharan dust hits.

A powerful storm brought the dust from Africa, and the buzzing holiday spot has turned an apocalyptic shade of red ahead of Easter holidays.

The storm has claimed one life near Athens as a storm struck parts of Greece with powerful gusts and flooding.

The man was located under a car in the Nea Makri rural area early on Thursday, April 2, 2026, per fire department officials.

Santorini, a volcanic island in the southern Aegean Sea and a buzzing sunset spot in Greece, has also been engulfed in the red dust, causing everyday life disruption on the Greek island.

Storm Erminio has also caused flight cancellations on Crete on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

The weather conditions are to remain stormy today, Thursday, April 2, in most parts of the country “with long-lasting and intense rains and storms and possibly with local hail," as per the latest updates from the national meteorological service.

Climate experts have linked Greece’s destructive floods to the increasingly warming climate.

The authorities have placed a red warning in Crete, focusing on the areas from west and south, effective from midday until late at night on Thursday, April 2, 2026.