Fire in old building in central Athens under partial control

The fire that broke out at an abandoned building in the heart of central Athens, on the corner of Aiolou and Agias Irenis streets, caused part of the roof to collapse and was now partially under control, the fire brigade reported on Monday.

Fire Brigade spokesperson Yiannis Artopios told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency that fire fighters had had to contend with the problem of frequent collapses, as the building was old and in very poor condition.

A total of seven fire engines with a crew of 21 firemen and two auxiliary vehicles took part in the operation. Despite initial fears that it might spread to adjacent businesses, the fire caused minimal damage to buildings nearby. The cause of the fire will be investigated by fire department investigators.