Greece's second-largest city woke to a thick, acrid smog on Sunday after a fast-moving wildfire tore through the Orfeas industrial area, prompting the public broadcaster ERT to urge residents to stay indoors and seal their windows against hazardous air.
A dense black-grey smoke plume stretching more than 20 kilometres blanketed Thessaloniki on the morning of July 5, carrying a strong, acrid smell of burning plastic that was felt across the city, including at Aristotelous Square, the White Tower and the Thermaic Gulf. Authorities urged residents to remain indoors with windows and doors shut due to the hazardous air quality. While the forest fire itself has since been brought under control, flames continue to burn at two industrial facilities in the Orfeas area, which hosts plants processing lubricants, petroleum products, textiles and clothing, along with a large-scale plastic recycling facility. Simos Daniilidis, Mayor of Neapoli-Sykies, said multiple explosions were heard overnight, underscoring the scale of the destruction, and advised that anyone forced to go outside should wear high-filtration masks. He confirmed the toxic atmosphere had spread beyond western Thessaloniki to the city centre, the White Tower and Kalamaria.
The disaster follows a separate blaze that broke out Saturday evening in the city's northern suburbs. That fire ignited in a ravine in a mountainous area around 8:30 p.m. and spread quickly onto the plains, burning mostly through brush, according to the Hellenic Fire Service. Residents of the small settlements of Anthoupoli, Filothei and Galini were ordered to evacuate by text message, and a facility housing 157 people with special needs was evacuated, with about 120 sheltered in a gym and the rest moved to a psychiatric hospital. A 76-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of starting the fire after reportedly appearing intoxicated. Around 115 firefighters and 38 fire engines, along with an unknown number of volunteers, battled the blaze, though aircraft could not operate after dark.
This is the second deadly fire crisis to strike the region in a week. A forest fire northeast of Thessaloniki killed a father and his 12-year-old son at the end of June, with evacuation alerts sent through Greece's 112 emergency system. That blaze, near Derveni in the Oreokastro municipality, forced around 4,000 residents from the village of Liti to flee, and was among 48 agricultural and forest fires recorded across Greece within a single 24-hour period.
Authorities continue to urge caution as Greece's wildfire season intensifies under hot, dry, windy conditions, with residents advised to monitor 112 alerts and follow ERT's guidance closely as air quality remains hazardous.