Dust

Efforts to manage the smoldering fires at the old sludge depot near the Plovdiv village of Katunitsa are ongoing, as the area continues to experience a strong, suffocating odor. A mobile laboratory is monitoring the air quality, prompting the closure of a local kindergarten and school after waste from the treatment plant ignited.

Bulgaria may face the possibility of a new criminal procedure initiated by the European Commission due to air pollution concerns. Reneta Koleva, Deputy Minister of Environment and Water, discussed the potential legal action in an interview with News.bg, highlighting issues related to the pollution levels of fine dust particles.

The air quality in Plovdiv has significantly deteriorated, with fine dust particle levels exceeding the norms by seven times, according to Ivan Stoyanov, the Deputy Mayor for Ecology and Health. Stoyanov, who is currently at the Tsalapitsa fire site, reported that mobile air quality stations detected a concentration of 350 mg/m³ of fine dust particles (FDP) 10.

The concentrations of African dust will remain high, mainly in the western and southern parts of the country

Detailed forecast for the coming days in all regions - What is the "airborne" phenomenon that mobilises the African dust phenomenon

Instability with localised showers in most areas until Wednesday - African dust is favoured from Thursday

The eerie, orange-hued phenomenon of the Saharan dust blanketing Athens during the week has been captured by a time-lapse video released by Meteo weather service of the National Observatory of Athens.

The images were recorded on Tuesday and Wednesday, when the dust cloud was at its strongest over Greece, before receding and moving further east.

The African dust microparticles that blanketed southern Greece reached shocking concentrations in Athens of up to 700 µg/m3 on Wednesday morning when the European limit is 50 µg/m3.

The Saharan dust, called Minerva Red, started to recede as of noon, thanks to west-northwest winds.

Plumes of dust carried by strong southerly winds from North Africa have shrouded the western part of Türkiye, decreasing air quality and visibility. 

Hot winds from Libya have engulfed cities including Istanbul, İzmir, Antalya, Bolu, Tekirdağ, and Muğla.

A major plume of Saharan dust that has affected much of Greece is expected to subside during the course of Wednesday, the National Observatory of Athens' DUST/METEO service said.

Prevailing west-northwesterly winds will gradually carry the dust toward the Aegean sea, while high concentrations are expected on Thursday over the islands of the Dodecanese.