A toxic cloud has covered large parts of Oraiokastro and Thessaloniki in northern Greece on Sunday after a wildfire in the area reached an industrial area and burned down also several plants. One arrest.
Five firefighters injured. Three villages and one care facility for people with disabilities have been evacuated.
With warnings by the Fire Department, residents of the broader area have been urged to stay in their homes with closed windows and balcony doors in order to protect themselves from the toxic substances, as stated by scientists and experts.
According to state broadcaster ERT, the atmosphere is suffocating with intense smell of burned plastic, and people should go out only if absolutely necessary and then with special masks.
The cloud that extends to 20 km is still moving towards Thessaloniki, some 10 km away, as water-dropping helicopters struggle to extinguish the fire in the two burning industrial plants, local media reported.
The fire broke out around near Oraiokastro by Thessaloniki 8 o’ clock on Saturday evening and spread quickly due to strong winds and powerful gusts.
Firefighters were quickly mobilized but they could not contain the blaze due to the winds. They managed to bring the blaze widely under control on Sunday morning. However, the recycling plant and a factory processing oil and lubricants are still burning at 13:00 on Sunday.
Five firefighters have been injured and three of them seriously after the inhaled smoke. They are hospitalized with respiratory problems.
A 76-year-old man has been arrested late on Saturday as suspect for starting the fire. The man who appeared to be intoxicated was allegedly driving his car at high speed on a rural road when it fell into a ditch and sparks from the wheels started the fire.
According to authorities, he has admitted to the incident and is expected to appear before the prosecutor later on Sunday.
As for the toxic cloud… residents are waiting for further information about what they should do and when the danger is over.
It should be recalled that five days ago another fire in Oraiokastro cost the lives of a 65-year-old man and his 12-year-old son.
