OPHELIA SHROUDING SKIES IN RED AS WINDS TURN DEADLY
A RED sun phenomenon has been spotted in the sky over parts of the UK overnight as Hurricane Ophelia claimed three lives with powerful 130km/h winds.
A layer of thick dust brought an eerie glow across the sky and turned the sun red, as Hurricane Ophelia’s killer winds picked up dust and debris from southern Europe and Africa.
It comes as the BBC reported that a woman in her 50s had been driving in the storm in County Waterford, in the southeast region of Ireland, when part of a tree fell onto her car and crushed her.
One man was killed after his car was also crushed by a tree, while another man died in a chainsaw accident while attempting to remove a tree felled by the storm.
The “unusual” reddish sky and red-looking sun have been reported across many parts of England.
The phenomenon was initially seen in the west of England and Wales before spreading to other areas.
The BBC reported that it was due to the remnants of Ophelia dragging in tropical air and dust from the Sahara.
As well as sparking fears of an apocalypse, there were health concerns as the thick blanket of dust swirling in the sky posed a risk to people with breathing difficulties and the elderly.
Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge said: “It’s all connected with Ophelia, on the eastern side of the low pressure system air is coming up in the southern direction.
“Air is being pulled from southern Europe and Africa and that air contains dust.”