Greece is confronting another punishing fire season. On July 15, a blaze erupted in Melidochori, Heraklion, triggering emergency alerts via the country’s 112 system. Another fire broke out in Polykastro, Kilkis, mobilizing 34 firefighters, 12 fire trucks, and two aircraft. Greece’s Civil Protection Authority issued a “very high risk” fire warning (category 4) for Crete and the North Aegean islands for the following day.
Perhaps most troubling is a pattern emerging around recycling facilities. Experts told Ta Nea that the accumulation of vast quantities of flammable materials, combined with inadequate fire safety measures and lax inspections, has turned many recycling plants into virtual “powder kegs.” These fires, once considered isolated incidents, are becoming a systemic problem demanding urgent regulatory attention.
