An alarm was raised late Wednesday night to the Fire Service, following reports of explosions and fire in an apartment building near Plateia Amerikis. Initial reports, shortly after 11 PM, indicated that people were trapped on balconies and the roof of the building, including an elderly person with health problems.
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At the scene, a large apartment building above a supermarket at the intersection of Lefkosias and Knossou streets, 15 firefighters rushed with six vehicles and one ladder truck. The firefighters, in a suffocating atmosphere, entered the building to locate the source of the fire, as smoke had flooded the common areas. Residents reported that explosions preceded the fire, which led authorities to the basement of the apartment building, where the electricity meters were located. There it was determined that the fire broke out when the meters “exploded,” causing the blasts.
For about two hours Lefkosias street remained closed, while Traffic Police temporarily interrupted traffic on Efpalinou as well, to facilitate the Fire Service’s work as they battled through thick smoke.
According to reports, two people experienced respiratory problems and were given first aid and oxygen by an ambulance crew.
Thanks to the timely intervention of firefighters, the fire did not spread to apartments or the supermarket, while all residents were safely evacuated. Fire vehicles remained at the scene until after 1 AM for complete extinguishing and checking for any remaining hotspots.
