Man dies after jumping from balcony of burning Kalabaka hotel
A fire erupted early Monday morning at a hotel in Kalabaka in central Greece, resulting in the death of its 55-year-old owner and injuries to 10 guests.
The blaze broke out around 7.10 an at the Aeolic Star Hotel, located in the town’s center.
According to initial reports, the blaze was believed to have originated from a malfunction in the hotel’s boiler system, possibly due to a short circuit. The flames spread rapidly, causing thick smoke to engulf the building and trapping several guests inside.
In a desperate attempt to save his property and guests, the owner reportedly jumped from a second-floor balcony. He was found seriously injured and was transported to the local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Emergency services responded promptly, deploying 34 firefighters with 12 vehicles to the scene. They managed to evacuate 26 individuals, including eight children, using ladders and other equipment.
Ten guests were taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons, suffering from respiratory issues due to smoke inhalation; all were reported to be in stable condition.