Cape Verde Under Effect of "Dry Haze" Affects Flights and Public Health

Cape Verde is currently under the effect of the phenomenon known as "dry haze", which has been covering the archipelago for several days, affecting air connections and emitting "high levels of inhalable particles", which can have harmful effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular system, according to alert authorities.

The National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics reported that this situation will persist until next Friday, causing poor visibility and high levels of inhalable particles. This condition has affected all connections between the islands and restricted some international connections, especially at the airports on the islands of São Vicente and Boa Vista.

Some international flights destined for Boa Vista were diverted to the island of Sal and the Canaries. A flight from Portugal to São Vicente returned to Lisbon after trying to land at Cesária Évora airport, and another was diverted to the city of Praia.

However, this morning, with the improvement of weather conditions, some flights between the islands were carried out. The airports most affected in the last two days, Boa Vista and São Vicente, are expected to receive 14 international flights (from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom) and 10 flights – seven domestic and three international (from Portugal, Netherlands and Luxembourg), respectively.

In addition to air complications, health authorities warn the population about the dangers of "dry fog". Pulmonologist Diva Leonilde Sanches highlighted on Cape Verdean public radio that high levels of inhalable particles can cause serious effects on the respiratory system.