{"id":1477,"date":"2026-07-05T12:37:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T12:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1477"},"modified":"2026-07-05T12:37:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T12:37:07","slug":"hundreds-of-firefighters-battle-a-wildfire-in-portugal-while-greek-authorities-warn-of-toxic-smoke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1477","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds of firefighters battle a wildfire in Portugal, while Greek authorities warn of toxic smoke"},"content":{"rendered":"
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ATHENS, Greece (AP) \u2014 Hundreds of firefighters battled wildfires in Portugal<\/span> and Greece<\/span> Sunday, with Spain and Italy sending reinforcements to Portugal to help battle a massive blaze burning for more than three days.<\/p>\n

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In Greece, authorities on Sunday urged residents of parts of Thessaloniki<\/span>, the second largest Greek city, to remain indoors and shut their windows and doors due to toxic smoke from a burning recycling plant that was engulfed by a wildfire on the outskirts of the city.<\/p>\n

In central Portugal\u2019s Vouzela area, more than 1,200 firefighters backed up by nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft tried to put out a blaze that broke out on Thursday, according to the country\u2019s Civil Protection authority. The wildfire had burned across an area of 12,000 hectares (120 square kilometers, 46 square miles) by Sunday, information from the European Union\u2019s Copernicus satellite mapping agency showed.<\/p>\n

The European Union\u2019s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid said Spain sent 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles as reinforcements to Portugal on Friday, while three firefighting aircraft from Italy and Spain were also dispatched to help.<\/p>\n

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Toxic smoke from wildfire in northern Greece<\/h2>\n

On the other side of southern Europe in Greece, a fast-moving blaze at a recycling plant broke out Saturday evening near the Oraiokastro suburb of Thessaloniki, triggering evacuation alerts for three suburbs and a facility housing 157 people with special needs. <\/p>\n

Strong winds fanned the flames, and around 160 firefighters were deployed to battle the flames through the night until water-dropping aircraft could take off at dawn, the fire department said. <\/p>\n

Oraiokastro mayor Pandelis Tsakiris said on Greece\u2019s state broadcaster ERT that several businesses and homes were damaged by the fire, but that a clearer picture would emerge after authorities conduct a full evaluation.<\/p>\n

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A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of having started the blaze through negligence by generating sparks with his vehicle that set vegetation near the road alight, the fire department said. He was due to appear before a prosecutor Sunday.<\/p>\n

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The fire came days after another wildfire in a nearby area killed a 12-year-old boy and his father.<\/p>\n

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Fire department spokesman Brig. Ioannis Artopoios, speaking on ERT television Sunday, said that about 85% of wildfires in Greece were caused by negligence, including through sparks generated through the use of agriculture machinery, discarded cigarettes and the use of outdoor barbecues. \u201cThis means most of them could have been avoided,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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