Firefighters have largely contained a major blaze at a recycling facility near the village of Omorfokhori, near the central Greece city of Larissa, although authorities warned that extinguishing the fire completely could take several days because of the highly combustible materials involved.
The absence of strong winds has significantly aided firefighting efforts and, according to authorities, there is no immediate threat to the village of Omorfokhori, located about 500 meters (550 yards) from the site.
More than 50 firefighters, supported by 22 fire engines, municipal water tankers and earthmoving equipment, remained at the scene. Their priority is to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring businesses and nearby farmland.
Operations have been complicated by repeated explosions of propane cylinders and other flammable materials inside the facility, increasing the risk of flare-ups. Although the main fire front has been brought under control, officials said extensive damping-down operations are expected to continue for several days.
The incident comes just days after another major industrial fire near Oreokastro, northwest of Thessaloniki, destroyed a recycling plant and a textile factory, prompting the evacuation of nearby villages and a care facility.
Firefighters remained on site for days to extinguish persistent hotspots and limit the release of hazardous smoke, underscoring the challenges posed by large-scale industrial blazes involving recyclable and chemical materials.
