A major fire that broke out at the “Aegean Recycling” facility near Panagiouda, just five kilometers north of the city of Mytilene on the island of Lesbos, has been brought under control, though authorities remain on high alert for possible flare-ups due to high temperatures and dry conditions.
According to local officials, the fire initially erupted in areas containing plastic and paper waste, destroying two large containers. The quick response by the facility’s internal fire safety team and security guards, who immediately notified the fire service, helped prevent the flames from spreading to other flammable materials and nearby infrastructure.
Deputy Mayor for Civil Protection in Mytilene, Nikos Karasavas, described the situation as extremely challenging. “At one point we were facing flames reaching 25 to 30 meters in height,” he said, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring of the site in the coming days due to the ongoing risk of reignition.
Residents Advised to Stay Indoors
The dense smoke and strong odor from burning plastic prompted Greece’s Civil Protection to issue an emergency alert, advising residents in Mytilene to remain indoors with windows and doors closed.
Panagiotis Sinioros, CEO of Aegean Recycling, stated that the fire consumed recyclable materials, over 80% of which came from the island’s blue recycling bins. He noted that there was an unusually large amount of stored material due to delays in transport to recycling plants, caused by logistical challenges between Lesbos and the port of Piraeus. Fortunately, the last workers had left the site on Monday evening after completing material sorting and had hosed down the area as a precaution.
A Blow to Local Business and Environment
Regional Governor of the Northern Aegean, Kostas Moutzouris, who visited the scene, underlined the environmental impact of the incident as well as the business implications for the company, which employs 70 people. “It’s a particularly difficult situation with both environmental and human consequences,” he said.
The site had regularly conducted fire drills in cooperation with the fire department, and one such drill had been scheduled for the morning of Tuesday, July 22 — just hours after the fire broke out.
Though the blaze has been contained, officials stress that the risk is not over. “The area needs to remain guarded for days,” Karasavas warned.
