Panic and disruption broke out in the seaside town of Loutraki on Wednesday evening after a fire erupted at the historic Loutraki Palace hotel, an abandoned property, prompting a major mobilization of firefighting forces and raising concerns that people may have been inside the building.
The fire started at around 7:30 p.m., with strong firefighting units rushing immediately to the scene. Volunteer organizations from the area also assisted in the operation, which was described as rapid and well-coordinated.
According to reports cited by loutrakiblog.gr, concern was raised that four minors may have been inside the building at the time of the blaze. Firefighters, equipped with breathing apparatus and specialized gear, conducted an exhaustive search of all areas to locate any possible trapped individuals.
Fortunately, no one was found inside during the search operations. Ambulances from the National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAV) were also present at the scene and remained on standby in case of injuries.
The fire was brought under control relatively quickly and extinguished, while firefighting crews continued inspections until around 10:00 p.m. to ensure that no one was trapped and that no new hotspots remained.
According to information, two minors were taken to the Loutraki Police Department and are being questioned as part of the ongoing preliminary investigation. Authorities are examining all possible scenarios regarding the cause of the fire.
Wildfire in Central Greece
The wildfire that broke out in Orchomenos, Boeotia, a region in central Greece, was brought under control on Wednesday evening after burning through a rural and forested area. According to the Fire Service, the blaze started around 4:00 p.m. and did not threaten homes or infrastructure.
A major firefighting response was deployed to contain the fire. A total of 54 firefighters took part in the operation, including three ground teams from the 4th EMAK special disaster response unit and 19 fire engines. From the air, four aircraft and two helicopters assisted in the effort, while municipal water tankers also supported the operation on the ground.
An Arson Investigation Unit from Boeotia was dispatched to the area to determine the cause of the fire.
