Panic scenes unfolded in the neighborhood of St. Paul, next to Metaxourgio, at dawn on Wednesday, when a fire broke out at a ground floor shop at the intersection of Psara and Agios Pavlos streets.

The fire broke out shortly after midnight, spread quickly to the loft of the shop and took a very large dimension, with dense smoke to “flood” the entire apartment building.

According to information, when the first firefighters arrived at the point, the shop was completely burningwhile they were trapped at least five citizens to top floors. Fearful other tenants, relatives and friends were calling on firefighters and police to enter the building or allow them to get themselves out to get their own. Among the people who were trapped were A man with mobility problems (wheelchair) as well as two pregnant women. With the decisive intervention of the firefighters, people were released -but some have had respiratory problems due to tobacco.

The fire on the ground floor seemed to be controlled when flames suddenly sprang up, first on the third floor, and then a fireplace appeared on the fourth floor, the Orange Press reports.

Aquifers from Byron and the Municipality of Athens rushed to the area, while the extinguishing operation participated in the extinguishing operation. 15 firefighters with 5 vehicles and a special armor vehicle. At the same time, police interrupted traffic on Psaron Street, from the height of Sfakion Street and Akominatou Street, from the height of Crete Street.

Arson “see” locals – they say they heard explosions of gases

A tenant of the third floor of the apartment building where the fire broke out and was released with the help of firefighters and police officers appeared confident that the fire started by incendiary energy.

“What can I tell you … We heard windows break and then a very big noise, obviously or gas or bomb. I told me my own bomb. We could not open the door because the smoke had already entered the apartment. We are even in the third »adding, apparently troubled, that they were very scared.

At the point of the event he went and the Nikos ChrysogelosDeputy Mayor of Climate Governance and Social Economy of the Municipality of Athens with civil protection responsibilities.

“The Municipality of Athens responds whenever the Fire or Secretary of State for Civil Protection needs our help. We came immediately to help with aquifers and see the situation in the area. We hope there is no more damage and there are no serious injuries. It is true that we see a great mobilization of the Fire Service and fortunately responded very quickly. “ Mr. Chrysogelos mentioned.

It should be noted that the extinguishing work continued until the early morning hours, with the atmosphere in the wider Metaxourgio area being significantly burdened by the fumes of the incinerated materials. OR Fire was finally under control at 3:20.