Coloums of
thick black smoke spread over Athens as a large fire broke out at a plastic
recycling plant on Saturday.

Over 49
firefighters along with two helicopters have rushed to the facility in the northern suburb of Metamorfosi
to contain the blaze, AFP reported, quoting the Athens News Agency.  

The smoke
from the fire has led to the closure of the northern national highway from the
Greek capital to the city of Lamia due to poor visibility.

Residents near the
plant have been advised to keep their doors and windows closed.  

While the
fire has been curbed inside the factory, the burning plastics are making it difficult
to douse the flames, according to firefighters.