Hotel fire in Lungomare near Vlora injures at least seven
Blaze began at about 04:00 in a ground‑floor bar; five injured were sent to the burns hospital in Tirana.
At least seven people were injured in a hotel fire that broke out in Lungomare, near the Albanian city of Vlora, early on the morning of 16 August 2026. Flames spread rapidly through the building, causing panic among guests; several people were forced to jump from balconies to escape the blaze and thick smoke.
The fire reportedly started at about 4:00 a.m. in a bar on the ground floor and then spread upward into the hotel rooms on the floor above. The hotel section of the building sustained extensive damage and the structure was largely consumed by the fire.
Emergency crews treated multiple victims at the scene before arranging hospital transfers. Five of the injured were taken to the burns hospital in Tirana for further care, while one patient remained under treatment at the regional hospital in Vlora. Two of those injured sustained serious burns. The wounded are mostly young people, aged between 25 and 30.
Preliminary findings
Initial review of security-camera footage and the on-site investigation determined the fire was accidental, caused by an electrical plug in a refrigerator located in the restaurant on the ground floor of the building.
Authorities continue to examine the scene and the exact toll of the incident is being finalised. Local emergency services led the evacuation and firefighting response in the early hours.
Photo: Arhiva
