Fire in Oraiokastro: 20-kilometer toxic cloud reaches Thessaloniki

A massive, dense black cloud of smoke has covered Thessaloniki since the early hours of Sunday (05/07), making the city’s atmosphere stifling.

The black smoke is emanating from a recycling plant that was engulfed in flames by the fire that broke out on Saturday night (04/07) in the Oraiokastro and Pavlos Melas area and has been burning for several hours.

According to ERT, the smoke cloud extends over a radius of more than 20 kilometers. The smell of burning plastic is strong throughout the city, while live footage shows the cloud hovering over central Thessaloniki, including Aristotelous Square and the Thermaic Gulf.

Authorities advise citizens to keep their windows closed and limit their movements, especially those in vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and people with respiratory problems, due to the potential toxicity of the smoke.

Aerial firefighting operations are continuously being reinforced, with planes and helicopters making repeated water drops, using the Thermaic Gulf as a water source. According to field assessments, the use of fire retardant liquid is also being considered to reduce the intensity of the fire and allow ground firefighting teams to approach more safely.

As reported by ERT, the firefighting operation is expected to last several more hours, as successive explosions continue inside the recycling plant. Information indicates more than ten explosions, suggesting that a large amount of flammable material remains inside the facility.

“The cloud is extremely dangerous”

Referring to the extensive damage caused by the fire in Oraiokastro, the mayor of Neapoli-Sykies, Simos Daniilidis, told ERT that continuous explosions were occurring throughout the night at the industrial facilities in the area. He urged citizens to strictly follow the authorities’ instructions due to the toxic smoke covering a large part of Thessaloniki.

The mayor described the scale of the destruction, noting that the area hosts units processing lubricants, petroleum products, clothing, textiles, and a recycling plant with large quantities of plastics.

“The damage is extensive, and throughout the night there were dozens, if not hundreds, of explosions,” he stated.

Mr. Daniilidis described the smoke cloud over Thessaloniki as particularly concerning, estimating that it contains hazardous substances.

He stated, “If you turn toward western Thessaloniki, you will see a tragically worse situation from this black and gray cloud, which contains heavy metals and dioxins,” calling for intervention by expert scientists to provide clear safety guidelines to the public.

He also recommended that those who must go outside use high-protection masks, emphasizing that the suffocating atmosphere is affecting not only western Thessaloniki but also the city center, the White Tower, and Kalamaria.

The mayor noted that the drop in winds has significantly helped firefighting efforts, but warned that a possible increase in wind strength could trigger new flare-ups.

“Let the aerial resources be multiplied. We don’t know how soon the winds may pick up again,” he said, recalling the experience of the catastrophic 1997 fire in the suburban forest of Thessaloniki.

At the same time, he praised the work of firefighters, volunteers, and municipal employees, calling them “heroes” operating under extremely difficult conditions and with very high heat loads. Mr. Daniilidis argued that the country needs to invest more in fire prevention starting from the spring months, calling for better staffing of services and greater support for volunteer groups.

He also mentioned the destruction of a municipal fire truck three years ago during an operation in the area of Evkarpia, noting that it has not yet been replaced, despite legal provisions.

In conclusion, he urged citizens to follow the instructions of the competent authorities and avoid unnecessary movements near the fire fronts, so as not to hinder the work of firefighting and municipal teams.

He also expressed concern about the fact that, as he noted, roadworks were being carried out on the Thessaloniki ring road despite the very high risk of fire on that day.