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Fire in Thessaloniki Prompts 112 Alert; 35 Firefighters, 2 Helicopters Deployed
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ท Greece /Disasters & Emergencies

Fire in Thessaloniki Prompts 112 Alert; 35 Firefighters, 2 Helicopters Deployed

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • A fire broke out in Agios Athanasios, Thessaloniki, on Sunday afternoon, July 12, 2026.
  • The fire started in low vegetation and debris, prompting a large emergency response.
  • An alert message was sent via the 112 emergency system to residents in the surrounding area.

A fire erupted in Agios Athanasios, part of the Chalkidona municipality in Thessaloniki, on Sunday afternoon, July 12, 2026. The blaze began in an area with low vegetation and debris shortly before 6:00 PM, quickly triggering a significant mobilization of emergency services.

According to the Fire Service, 35 firefighters, including a hiking team from the 2nd Special Operations Unit for Natural Disasters (EMODฮ•), are currently battling the flames. They are supported by ten fire trucks and two helicopters assisting with aerial water drops.

Water tankers from the Municipality of Thessaloniki have also joined the operation to bolster water supply for the ground crews. Throughout the incident, the Central Operational Coordination Center for Disaster Response (ESKEDIK) is receiving real-time visual and thermal imaging from a drone to monitor the fire's progression.

At 6:02 PM, an alert message was dispatched via the 112 emergency system to residents in the wider area, urging them to remain vigilant and follow official instructions. A team from the Thessaloniki Arson Crimes Directorate is en route to investigate the cause of the fire.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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