Tree falls in Kalamaria playground, injuring mother and two-year-old child
A mother and her two-year-old daughter sustained head and body abrasions after a tree collapsed in Aigaiou Park in Kalamaria, prompting emergency transfers to Papanikolaou and Ippokratio hospitals.
Tree collapse in Kalamaria playground
A large tree broke and collapsed inside a municipal recreation area in Kalamaria, Thessaloniki, on Friday afternoon, 11 September 2026. The incident took place at approximately 19:00 in Aigaiou Park, situated directly at the intersection of Aigaiou Street and Thermaikou Street. A substantial crowd of parents and children had gathered in the playground area at the time of the sudden structural failure. As the tree began to give way, it fell toward people gathered in the play area, creating immediate commotion among the visitors. A mother who was watching over her two-year-old daughter in the playground reacted quickly to pull the toddler away from the falling branches. Both the woman and her young child were struck as the tree came down, but the quick movement prevented direct crushing under the primary weight of the trunk.
Immediate emergency response and dispatch
Local emergency authorities in Thessaloniki were alerted to the accident within minutes of the collapse. The official emergency log recorded the initial telephone call to the Fire Service at 19:02 on Friday evening. The regional Fire Service dispatch centre immediately directed two fire apparatus to the scene at the Aigaiou and Thermaikou junction. A crew of firefighters (recorded as five personnel by some municipal reporting and six by other emergency accounts) conducted operations at the scene. Firefighters secured the immediate area around the fallen tree, checked the wreckage for any additional victims, and undertook necessary safety measures to make the municipal park safe for the public. Paramedics from the National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAB) also arrived on the scene with ambulance units to provide immediate medical assistance.
- A large tree collapses onto a playground at Aigaiou and Thermaikou streets in Kalamaria.
- The Fire Service receives an emergency call regarding the incident.
- Firefighters secure the scene and paramedics transfer the injured mother and child to hospitals.
Assessment of injuries and on-site care
Initial medical triage conducted by responding EKAB personnel confirmed that neither victim suffered life-threatening harm. The mother sustained contusions and abrasions to her head during the impact of the falling tree. The two-year-old girl sustained minor abrasions and light impact injuries after being pulled away by her mother. Paramedics administered first aid to the woman and the toddler directly at the playground site before preparing both individuals for ambulance transport. Emergency personnel confirmed that both the mother and daughter remained in stable overall health following the initial on-site evaluation and treatment.
Hospital transfers across Thessaloniki
Following the initial stabilisation at the scene, the two patients were transported by EKAB ambulances to separate on-duty medical institutions in Thessaloniki. The mother was admitted to Papanikolaou Hospital for comprehensive medical examinations and treatment of her head contusions. The two-year-old girl was transferred to Ippokratio Hospital, where pediatric staff admitted her for preventative monitoring and care of her superficial abrasions. Local reports from the scene noted that no other visitors at the crowded park required hospitalization, while authorities continued examining the area around the fallen tree.
