Fire investigators suspect deadly blaze caused by suicidal grandfather
Fire service investigators looking into the cause of a blaze that broke out in an apartment in a suburb of Thessaloniki on Tuesday morning and killed three residents – including a one-and-a-half year old toddler – believe it was sparked by one of the other victims, a man aged 65, who poured gasoline on himself and set it alight.
The man is believed to be the grandfather of the household. A woman thought to be his wife and a young child who may his grandchild died in the blaze in the suburb of Kordelio.
Three survivors of the fire – a man aged 25, a 7-year-old child and a woman – are believed to be related to elderly man, who local media suggested had made at least two attempts on his own life in the past, both times by self-immolation.
Fire service investigators found a fuel container in the debris which is believed to have contained gasoline. They suspect the elderly man doused himself in the fuel and set himself on fire and that the fire got out of control.
The three survivors all suffered burns and are being treated at a local hospital. The 25-year-old has been described by local media as suffering serious injuries.
