A strange and unusually heavy dust cloud from the Syrian desert has blanketed Cyprus, blocking out the sun and turning the light a weird yellow orange. There are fears that pollution from the war in Syria has been carried over to Cyprus, as the levels of micro particles in the atmosphere shoot up to a range of 193-2407 micrograms per cubic metre, from the average level of 50 micrograms per cubic metre.

Larnaca Airport has announced that some flights will be diverted to Paphos due to the low visibility in Larnaca. Flights have since restarted, but passengers are warned of delays and diversions to Paphos. Cyprus Airports tweeted the photo below showing the conditions at Larnaca Airport.

The air quality can be tracked on the government’s website here.

People with respiratory problems should stay indoors, especially vulnerable groups like children and the elderly or those with asthma. The satellite picture below from Eumestat shows a dark pink cloud of dust over the island.

Outdoor workers should wear masks and minimise their exposure to the outdoors as much as possible. As visibility is quite limited, care should also be taken on the roads.