A major fire that broke out on Sunday evening (13/7) at the old building of the former Badminton Theatre, located within the Goudi Metropolitan Park, was brought under partial control in the early hours of Monday. The blaze erupted shortly after 8:00 p.m., and within minutes the abandoned building was engulfed in flames, while thick smoke blanketed a large portion of the Attica sky, causing widespread alarm among residents — particularly given that the incident occurred in the heart of Athens, in a densely populated urban area.
The intensity of the fire caused the roof of the building to collapse. The structure had previously hosted major events during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Located nearby are recreational facilities and public services, including the offices of the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) and the Ministry of Citizen Protection.
According to the Fire Brigade, the fire has been contained within the building and there is no risk of it spreading to surrounding areas. No reports of trapped or injured individuals have been made. A large contingent of firefighting forces remains on site, continuing operations to fully extinguish the blaze.
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Fire at Goudi Metropolitan Park: Emergency 112 alert issued due to heavy smoke
On Sunday, shortly after 8:00 p.m., an emergency alert was sent via the 112 system, urging residents to remain on standby. The message read: “Fire at the Badminton Theatre in the Attica Region. Smoke is moving towards your area. Stay indoors, close doors and windows. Remain on standby and follow the instructions of the Authorities.”
⚠️ 1️⃣1️⃣2️⃣ Alert Activated
🆘 Fire at the #Badminton_Theatre in the Attica Region
‼️ Smoke is moving towards your area
‼️ Stay indoors, close doors and windows
‼️ Remain on standby and follow the instructions of the Authorities
ℹ️…
— 112 Greece (@112Greece) July 12, 2026
A team from the Athens Arson Investigation Division was dispatched to the scene to investigate the cause and circumstances under which the fire broke out. As of now, however, no official assessment regarding the origin of the blaze has been made public.
Throughout the operation, ESKEDIK (the National Emergency Coordination and Response Centre) maintained continuous aerial surveillance using drone footage captured via both optical and thermal cameras.
