Electric scooter explosion sparks hotel fire in Athens; residents rescued

A fire erupted in a central Athens hotel on Sunday, trapping some residents and sending smoke billowing through the building. The blaze, which started on the ground floor of the Omonia Square hotel, is thought to have been caused by an exploding electric scooter undergoing charging.

Firefighters responded swiftly to the eight-story building, with strong forces arriving to tackle the flames. Some hotel guests found themselves trapped on their balconies as smoke filled the upper floors. The fire was brought under control within minutes due to the rapid mobilization of emergency services.

While the fire was quickly contained, the incident led to three people sustaining minor injuries. One 41-year-old foreign national suffered burns to his hands and legs and was taken to the Red Cross Hospital. Others experienced respiratory issues due to the dense smoke, prompting the evacuation of the building as a precaution. Emergency medical services (EKAV) provided on-site first aid.

Traffic was temporarily disrupted on nearby streets, including 3rd September Street and Patision Street, as emergency services worked at the scene. The fire service deployed 25 firefighters with seven vehicles, including specialized ladder and boom trucks, to manage the situation.

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A fire broke out in a hotel in Omonia Square, Athens.