Fire contained at Badminton Theater building in Athens; roof collapses

A significant fire erupted Sunday evening in the old Badminton Theater building located in Athens' Metropolitan Park. Firefighting forces responded promptly, and the blaze has since been contained within the structure, with no risk of spreading to surrounding areas.

According to the Fire Service, the fire broke out shortly after 8 p.m. Initial reports indicate no trapped individuals. However, a portion of the roof collapsed due to the intensity of the fire. Firefighting units continue to work on extinguishing the blaze completely.

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very black dense smoke

Emergency services issued a 112 alert, advising residents to remain on standby. A large contingent of firefighters, utilizing water vehicles, ladder trucks, and breathing apparatus, were on site, supported by volunteers and municipal water tankers. Drones provided continuous aerial surveillance with thermal imaging.

Traffic was temporarily disrupted on surrounding roads, including sections of Mesogeion Avenue and Varyti Street, to facilitate the emergency response. However, traffic flow was restored shortly after 9:30 p.m. An investigation into the cause of the fire has been initiated by the Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes.

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the building had been abandoned for many years, it was a dump, until a private individual took it, made it beautiful and operated it for three or four years. However, due to problems with the permit, the building was abandoned again.