Pangrati apartment fire follows reports of explosion

A fire broke out in a basement apartment on Pratinou Street in the Pangrati district of Athens on Tuesday evening. The Hellenic Fire Service responded to the call around 19:10, deploying 10 firefighters, five vehicles, and a specialized crane vehicle. Firefighters successfully contained the blaze to the basement, preventing it from spreading to the upper floors of the building.

Local residents reported hearing a loud explosion immediately before the flames appeared. Due to heavy smoke, residents of the apartment building were evacuated as a precaution by the Hellenic Police. Some witnesses suggested the apartment had been occupied by an elderly woman who had passed away several months ago.

The Athens Arson Crimes Investigation Unit has been mobilized to determine the exact cause of the fire and to investigate the reports of an explosion.