Cyprus takes a dusting

CYPRUS was shrouded in a thick cloud of African dust yesterday as sand storms whipped across Egypt and Libya.

Paphos was one of the worst affected areas on the island, with visibility at one stage yesterday morning so poor that three incoming flights from the UK had to be diverted to Larnaca, because conditions were too bad to land.

"The dust problem occurs every year in the eastern Mediterranean, though it is perhaps slightly denser this year," said Kleanthis Philaniotis, director of Cyprus Weather Services.

Limassol had an additional problem, when torrential rain and lightning mingled with the dust to produce a muddy downpour — a blow for the recent influx of tourists.

The weather also affected people with respiratory problems. Yesterday morning, 10 people were admitted to the casualty unit at Nicosia General Hospital. Dr Kostas Antoniades advised people to take all necessary precautions and referred them to guidelines published by the Ministry of Health.

"Those with breathing problems should remain at home, unless they have a specific reason for going out. If they have to go outside then they should protect their mouth and nose," said Dr Antoniades.

Afternoon showers dampened the effects of the dust in the air, and as the winds changed course Philaniotis expected a distinct improvement in the weather today.

Paphos airport re-opened yesterday afternoon as the weather brightened.

But things looked set to remain bleak in North Africa until the end of the week. Visibility was down to only 200 metres in parts of Libya and Alexandria port stayed closed.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.