The identities of the six people injured in the fire that engulfed a hotel in the Lungomare area of Vlora in the early hours of the morning have been released. According to the official version, two of them suffered severe burns, while most of the injured are young people between the ages of 20 and 30.
Who the injured are
The identified injured are: Ndorina Rexhepi, 25; Arlinda Rexhepi, 27; Erza Grainca, 21; Aldo Kasimi, 30; Ana Dyrmishi, 25; and Luan Saliu, 21.
Among them are four women and two men, all of them young. The most serious condition is reported for two people who suffered significant burns to the body.
How the hotel fire happened
The fire was reported at around 04:05 inside the “Brooklyn” hotel, in the “10 Korriku” neighborhood of Vlora. According to preliminary information, the flames are suspected to have started in the hotel restaurant and then spread through the building.
Because of the rapid spread of the flames, holidaymakers were forced to seek emergency exits. Some of them, in an attempt to escape the fire, jumped from balconies, suffering fractures and other bodily injuries.
Where the injured are receiving treatment
According to Police, five of the injured were transported to the Burns Hospital in Tirana for specialized treatment. Another is being treated at the Vlora Regional Hospital.
Authorities have not given further details on the health condition of each of the injured, beyond the fact that two of them have severe burns.
The investigation and initial suspicions
From the preliminary investigative actions, including a review of security cameras, the fire has been provisionally classified as accidental. According to the initial suspicions, the flames may have been caused by the burning of the electrical socket of a refrigerator in the restaurant area.
However, the circumstances remain under verification and the investigative group, under the direction of the Prosecution, is continuing its work to fully document the incident.
The incident has also raised questions about safety measures in accommodation facilities frequented during the tourist season, especially when a fire spreads at this pace and forces people to jump from balconies to save themselves.
For now, authorities have provided only a preliminary version of the cause of the flames, while it remains to be seen whether the investigation will provide fuller answers about the safety conditions at the facility.