Massive Plume Of Sahara Dust, Sulfur From Canary Islands Shrouds Swathes Of Cuba

A massive plume of Saharan dust mixed with sulfur from the volcanic eruption in the Canary Islands has shrouded swathes of Cuba, turning blue skies into a brown haze and sparking health warnings as air quality falls to unhealthy levels.

Reuters video showed hazy skies over Havana's Malecon coastal strip and the emblematic National Capitol building.

Strong warm winds over the Sahara desert typically whip up sand at this time of year and carry it thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.

But this year, it has mixed with volcanic ash particles from the outburst of Cumbre Vieja in the Canary Island of La Palma, said the Cuban meteorological center.

The dust cloud moved into western Cuba on Tuesday (October 5), and authorities recommended people stay indoors to reduce exposure to these particles.