'Frustrated' Brits stuck in Canary Islands after 'apocalyptic' sandstorm

The weather caused chaos for families trying to return to the UK from a half-term break, but flights are resuming this morning.

Monday 24 February 2020 12:20, UK

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Sandstorm hits Canary Islands
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British holidaymakers have been stranded overnight after an "apocalyptic" sandstorm in the Canary Islands closed airports.

Visibility across the islands was severely impacted by the sandstorm, which carried red dust from the Sahara desert.

Flights from Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma and North Tenerife are beginning to resume, but those departing South Tenerife continue to be grounded.

Flights have been grounded in and out of busy airports
Image: Flights have been grounded in and out of busy airports

It is believed between 12,000 and 14,000 Britons have been stranded since Sunday because of the sandstorm, also known as a calima.

Strong winds carried the sand towards the popular tourist destinations, giving the air a dramatic red hue that one tourist from Belfast said made their trip feel "apocalyptic".

He managed to get away on one of the last flights back to the UK on Saturday, and told Paste BN that the conditions made it "quite hard to breathe" during his final few hours abroad.

A satellite image shows the sandstorm over the Canary Islands. Pic: @apuntoratge
Image: A satellite image shows the sandstorm over the Canary Islands. Pic: @apuntoratge

Another Briton, Michael Nixon, who went to Tenerife with his family for his 50th birthday, said he was worried the "pink dust" which had covered his rented apartment balcony would delay his flight home to Newcastle on Wednesday.

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He described the sandstorm as "surreal" - and said it was difficult to see with all of the sand in the air.

Meanwhile, tourist Greg Horsman, who was due to fly home on Sunday, had his flight cancelled.

He said he felt the response had been "pretty shambolic" and it wasn't clear "who is running the show".

"We were one of the lucky ones. We were on a cruise so we managed to go back to the ship because it couldn't sail because of the weather.

"But I think there were a lot that were left in the airport. There were a lot that went to a hotel. It has all been a bit of a shambles.

"We were also lucky to get our suitcases back.

"There are families who have had their suitcases checked in but haven't had them now for three days. Pretty shambolic, really."

The sandstorm has coated the Canary Islands with orange dust
Image: The sandstorm has coated the Canary Islands with orange dust

While some were stuck on the islands, others who had hoped to head out over the weekend remained in the UK.

One man hoping to go on a family holiday told Paste BN that he had been at Gatwick since Saturday, with poor visibility caused by the calima making it too difficult for aircraft to take off and land.

Tim Crew, 69, was going to Lanzarote with his family for a holiday after cancelling a trip to Hong Kong and Thailand because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Their BA flight from Gatwick on Sunday was cancelled and the family has been booked into a hotel.

Stranded passengers wait at Las Palmas Airport in Gran Canaria
Image: Stranded passengers wait at Las Palmas Airport in Gran Canaria
Visibility on the islands has been badly affected
Image: Visibility on the islands has been badly affected

He said: "It's one of those things really. If no one had talked to us and if there had been obvious problems and culpability, I'd probably be quite annoyed.

"But everyone's done the right thing. The pilot came out a few times and told us in person and apologised, saying they had no more news at the moment and they were going to send us to a hotel.

"It's not great, it's not how I planned it, it's not what I want, but these things happen."

The sandstorm has forced some flights from the UK to Tenerife to be cancelled
Image: The sandstorm has forced some flights from the UK to Tenerife to be cancelled
Known as 'calimas', the sandstorms form when strong winds whip up dense clouds of sand from the Sahara and carry them across the 60 mile gap to the Canaries
Image: Known as 'calimas', the sandstorms form when strong winds whip up dense clouds of sand from the Sahara and carry them across the 60 mile gap to the Canaries

What is a calima?

Calimas are hot wind storms that carry sand towards the Canary Islands from the Sahara, capable of lifting dust thousands of metres above the Atlantic Ocean before blanketing the region.

The air has been given a dramatic red hue
Image: The air has been given a dramatic red hue
Airports have remained open for passengers but all flights have been grounded
Image: Airports have remained open for passengers but all flights have been grounded

They stem from the Saharan Air Layer - an extremely hot and dry layer of the atmosphere above the North African desert that overlies the cooler air of the Atlantic.

When passing over the Canaries, it forms a thick fog that reduces visibility and can cause breathing difficulties.

Around 144 flights have been affected so far, according to a spokeswoman for airport operator AENA
Image: Around 144 flights have been affected so far, according to a spokeswoman for airport operator AENA
This latest storm has hit at a particularly bad time for holidaymakers, coinciding with British half-term holidays
Image: This latest storm has hit at a particularly bad time for holidaymakers, coinciding with British half-term holidays

People still on the islands have been advised to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed.

The regional government has declared a state of alert, with authorities in Lanzarote's capital Arrecife cancelling all outdoor activities including some carnival celebrations.

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