Emergency services have responded to a fire that broke out this morning at a hotel near Omonia Square in central Athens.

According to the Fire Service, the blaze started in a storage area of the building. Firefighters are also carrying out rescue operations to evacuate guests who have become trapped on the hotel’s balconies.

A total of 25 firefighters with seven fire engines have been deployed to the scene, along with a hydraulic platform and a ladder truck to assist with the rescue and firefighting efforts.