Central Greece military airbase evacuated as a precaution due to wildfire; major explosion in afternoon

Hellenic Air Force aircraft were transferred from a military airbase at the Nea Aghialos township, near the central coastal city of Volos, on Thursday afternoon after a wildfire front reached and entered the site’s perimeter.

According to an informal briefing by air force officials late in the evening, the wildfire affected an area within the airbase where munitions are stored for the 111th combat wing.

The munitions depot is located north of the runway, and was evacuated at 17.45 local time when the fire advanced in the face of fire-fighting efforts.

Initial blasts were followed by a major explosion at 19.18 (17.18 GMT), leading police to establish a three-kilometer perimeter around the site.

The air force general staff noted that only aircraft outside shelters were flown to other airbases, and only as a precautionary measure.

An officers’ housing unit was also evacuated as a precaution.

The airbase was described as secure and not facing a threat from a wildfire in the evening, before midnight, while air force and army ordnance disposal technicians were dispatched to the premises.

Earlier, a total of 133 people were evacuated from the Nea Aghialos harbor, the coast guard reported on Thursday evening.