New footage from the fire that engulfed an apartment building in Elbasan highlights one of the most dramatic moments of the incident: a resident is forced to climb out of a window to escape the flames, but remains stranded outside it. The incident comes a few days after the explosion of a gas cylinder caused a major fire and considerable damage to the building.
The building was left uninhabitable
According to the published information, the gas cylinder explosion caused a large-scale fire in an apartment building in Elbasan. The consequences for the building were severe, and it has been reported as uninhabitable.
The material damage appears to be considerable, while the incident has once again raised questions about safety in collective housing and the danger posed by the use of gas cylinders in such environments.
The moment the resident tries to escape
In footage obtained from the scene, the moment can be seen when a resident of one of the apartments tries to get away from the flames that had surrounded his home. He climbs out of the window in an attempt to save himself, but remains stranded outside it.
The scene shows the level of danger residents faced during the fire, in a situation where seconds were decisive.
The resident’s account after the incident
Shortly after the incident, the resident himself said he had managed to escape by jumping from the balcony, while also suffering injuries.
“I’ve been out for half an hour (showing signs of injuries). The balcony door fell on my head, my son was coming from school. My son was screaming. Imagine hearing your child say, ‘Help!’ and not being able to get out. I jumped from the balcony afterward. The damage is up to 80 million lek. A month ago I put money into it again,” he said.
Major damage and uncertainty for residents
In addition to the danger to life, residents are also facing serious economic consequences. According to the resident’s statement, the damage to the apartment amounts to as much as 80 million lek.
For the affected families, the fire has left not only physical injuries and psychological shock, but also immediate uncertainty over housing and a return to normal life.
The incident in Elbasan remains another serious alarm over safety conditions in apartment buildings and the consequences that can take dramatic proportions within just a few minutes.
The footage of the resident stranded outside the window makes it even clearer how close this incident came to tragedy.