The Canary Islands are typically a tranquil haven for European holidaymakers seeking some warm sunshine and sand during the cold winter months.
But thousands of travellers got rather more sand than they bargained for this weekend as a huge sandstorm blew in from the Sahara.
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Cars drive on the TF-1 highway during a sandstorm in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. AFP -
Cars drive on the TF-1 highway during a sandstorm in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Canary Island of Tenerife. AFP -
Gran Canaria Airport as airplanes are not allowed to take-off in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. EPA -
Big waves hit the sea promenade of El Burrero's beach during a windy afternoon in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands on February 23, 2020. EPA -
Hundreds of people await at Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suarez Airport as flights to the Canary islands have been either canceled or delayed, in Madrid, Spain. EPA -
Surfers go for a swim at Playa Blanca in Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. EPA -
Passengers walk outside Tenerife South–Reina Sofia Airport during a sandstorm on February 23, 2020 on the Canary Island of Tenerife. AFP -
People take a stroll by the sea promenade in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. EPA -
A view of the runway during a sandstorm blown over from North Africa known as "calima" at Las Palmas Airport, Canary Islands, Gran Canaria. Reuters -
A couple walk across a bridge in a cloud of red dust in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. AP Photo -
People ride on a fairground attraction in a cloud of red dust in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. AP Photo -
Cars drive in a cloud of red dust in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. AP Photo -
Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands on February 23, 2020. EPA -
A car drives along Arrecife, in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, on February 23, 2020. EPA -
Passengers wait at Tenerife South–Reina Sofia Airport after flights were cancelled due to a sandstorm on February 23, 2020 on the Canary Island of Tenerife. AFP -
Passengers wait outside Tenerife South–Reina Sofia Airport after flights were cancelled due to a sandstorm on February 23, 2020 on the Canary Island of Tenerife. AFP
Tenerife and Gran Canaria were shrouded in orange dust, causing travel disruption that left holidaymakers stranded on the islands off the coast of north-west Africa.
A Nasa satellite image showed the sand being carried east from the Sahara across the Atlantic Ocean to the popular holiday resorts.
Airport operator Aena confirmed on Sunday that it diverted all incoming flights amid the poor visibility, but some outbound flights from Fuerteventura and Lanzarote were operating.
Many tourists took to social media to say they were stranded and pictures showed huge queues forming at airports as people waited for flights to resume. Some called the weather phenomenon "apocalyptic", while others said it was "like living on Mars".
The regional government declared a state of alert on Saturday and advised people to keep doors and windows closed, avoid non-essential car travel and stay away from coastal areas.
Spain's national weather service warned winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour would continue to affect the islands until Monday.
