A major fire is underway in Oreokastro, a suburb of Thessaloniki, with a considerable firefighting force, including support from the army and aerial forces, battling the fire, which has engulfed two large factory complexes.

There are two active fronts centred in a recycling plant and a textile factory, where there are still large pockets of fire due to the high thermal load and the large amount of flammable materials.

Thick black smoke has covered much of Thessaloniki, with the cloud extending over a radius of more than 20 kilometres. The smell of burning plastic is strong throughout the city, with an extensive cloud covering the centre of Thessaloniki, Aristotelous Square and the Thermaikos Gulf.

An emergency warning message via 112 was issued overnight to residents of the Oreokastro area of ​​Thessaloniki, calling on those in the Filothei Oreokastro area of ​​the Thessaloniki Regional Unit to immediately move to the safety of the stadium in the town of Liti.

A further 112 message was issued soon afterwards by the authorities, advising the public in the Anthoupoli area of ​​Oreokastro to stay indoors, close doors and windows and follow the instructions from the authorities.

A 76-year-old man has been arrested and is being charged with arson.