Fire at Diavata recycling plant blankets Thessaloniki in smoke
Firefighters battled a blaze at an industrial recycling site that sent smoke across most of the Greek city early on Monday.
A fire at a recycling company in Diavata, in Thessaloniki's industrial zone, sent thick smoke across most of the Greek city early on Monday, according to ERT News, Iefimerida and Naftemporiki. The fire broke out at around 4am, and firefighters remained at the scene for hours trying to bring it under control.
Fire engines moved continuously between water sources and the blaze for hours, with crews struggling to contain flames that stayed active for an extended period, according to ERT News and Iefimerida.
Greece's Fire Service was notified of the blaze at about 4:45am, Naftemporiki reported. Eighteen firefighters and six vehicles were sent to tackle the fire, and the municipality of Delta mobilised water tankers and heavy machinery to assist, the outlet said.
The fire broke out in an industrial area between the old national road, the Hellenic Petroleum site and the Egnatia motorway, according to ERT News and Iefimerida. Firefighters faced a difficult operation because of the large quantities of plastic and bulky waste stored at the recycling site, which fed the flames and required large amounts of water and earth-moving work to contain, both outlets reported.
No homes or other businesses were reported near the source of the fire, as the surrounding industrial units are spaced apart, which limited the risk of it spreading, according to ERT News and Iefimerida. Naftemporiki reported that the fire was later brought under control, and that Thessaloniki's fire investigation unit for arson had been assigned to establish its cause.
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What we know
- 2+ outlets · ERT News, Iefimerida +2 A fire broke out at a recycling company in Diavata, Thessaloniki, at about 4am on 19 October.
- 2+ outlets · ERT News, Iefimerida +2 Smoke spread across most of the city, creating a suffocating smell, according to ERT News and Iefimerida.
- 1 outlet · Naftemporiki Eighteen firefighters and six vehicles were sent to the scene, Naftemporiki reported.
- 2+ outlets · ERT News, Iefimerida +2 No casualties or damage beyond the fire itself were reported.
- 1 outlet · Naftemporiki The fire was later brought under control, according to Naftemporiki.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
The smoke covered a large part of Greece's second-largest city, with residents across Thessaloniki reporting a strong, suffocating smell, according to ERT News and Iefimerida. Fires at waste and recycling facilities are difficult to extinguish because of the plastics and other combustible materials stored there, which is why the operation required extended firefighting resources even though the blaze stayed within an industrial zone away from homes. The fire also burned in a corridor that sits alongside part of Greece's Hellenic Petroleum refining complex, according to the source reports, meaning any spread beyond the recycling site could have threatened a major energy facility, though no such spread was reported.
Sources
Reported by 4 reports from 4 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- ERT News: Φωτιά σε εταιρεία ανακύκλωσης στα Διαβατά – Αποπνικτικός καπνός σκέπασε τη Θεσσαλονίκη
- Iefimerida: Μεγάλη φωτιά σε εταιρεία ανακύκλωσης στα Διαβατά -Αποπνικτική η ατμόσφαιρα στη Θεσσαλονίκη
- Naftemporiki: Θεσσαλονίκη: Φωτιά τα ξημερώματα σε εργοστάσιο ανακύκλωσης στα Διαβατά – Τέθηκε υπό έλεγχο
- in.gr: Φωτιά σε εταιρεία ανακύκλωσης στα Διαβατά – Αποπνικτικός καπνός σκέπασε τη Θεσσαλονίκη
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- Where did the fire break out?
- At a recycling company in Diavata, in Thessaloniki's industrial zone, Greece.
- Were there any casualties?
- No casualties or damage beyond the fire were reported.
- What caused the smoke over Thessaloniki?
- Large quantities of plastic and bulky waste at the recycling site fed the flames, producing thick smoke that spread across the city, according to local media.
This article was written with AI assistance from 4 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.