Nea Anchialos

The explosions in late July at a Hellenic Air Force ammunitions depot near the town of Nea Anchialos in central Greece has prompted a discussion on new security and fire safety protocols, and the replacement of tired infrastructure that can only just accommodate the military's increasingly modern technological capabilities.

Some conclusions are reportedly emerging from an administrative inquiry (EDE) confirming that the explosions at the ammo depot on a Hellenic Air Force base last Friday in central Greece were caused by the general-purpose air-to-ground bombs (iron bombs) stored in above-ground facilities that were exposed to the heat load of the wildfire that was raging in the vicinity. 

A metal fragment, apparently from a missile, lies on a farm near the town of Nea Anchialos, in central Greece.

Wildfires in Greece abated on Friday after burning for nearly two weeks but emergency services worked to prevent new flare-ups in the central part of the country, where people had fled massive explosions at an ammunition depot the day before.

A wildfire that was raging unchecked in central Greece triggered massive explosions at an Air Force ammunition depot, forcing the evacuation of several F-16 fighter jets from the air base where the depot is located.

The Hellenic Air Force has begun to gradually move its F-16s stationed at the Nea Anchialos Air Base as wildfires have begun to threaten the base itself.

The flames have already engulfed parts of the town of Nea Anchialos and earlier they triggered a series of major explosions at the air base's ammunition dump.