A hotel in northwestern Florina, where 14 guests were hospitalized on October 27 due to suspected carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, was reportedly operating without a license, according to Greek media.
Among those affected, a 55-year-old guest remains in critical but stable condition, while two others are still under observation.
The hotel owner faces charges of negligence and has been released from custody.
System Flaws in Protection Measures for Tourists
Media reports from SKAI indicate that authorities are investigating the cause of the CO poisoning and state the hotel was operating without a license.
Additionally, the hotel had previously been fined €10,000 for other violations, and that its restaurant had been shut down.
Local officials who went to inspect the site before the most recent incident found the hotel closed.
The revelations have sparked an outcry among the public who are collectively wondering how an unlicensed hotel is permitted to continue its operations unabated, and even take future reservations.
The incident highlights gaps in Greece’s licensing system, where oversight for accommodations and their facilities are split across multiple local, regional and national authorities, including Greece’s National Tourism Organization (GNTO).
Although Greece has over 10,000 registered accommodations and 305 campgrounds, tourists currently have no central platform to verify a lodging’s licensing status before booking a room.
This marks the second major unlicensed facility incident this year in Greece. Unfortunately in the previous case a young man lost his life at an unlicensed amusement park.
About the Florina Hotel Incident
It all started when 14 guests at a hotel in Limnochori village fainted in the early hours of Sunday, October 27, showing symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning believed to be caused by fumes from the lodge’s heating system.
Firefighters, police, and medical emergency services (EKAV) responded promptly, evacuating the hotel and transporting affected guests—some in unconscious or semi-conscious states—to nearby hospitals in Florina and Ptolemaida for respiratory treatment.
The alarm was raised when a couple on their balcony overheard a man from a neighboring room calling for help at around 2:30 a.m., saying that his wife had fainted.
Pavlos Sarigiannidis, the Deputy Mayor of Amyntaio, spoke about the incident during a morning show on Mega TV: “I received the first call from the police at 2:30 a.m. and went immediately. The guests, aged between 30 and 55 years, were in their rooms, not in a common area. The hotel had recently been renovated and reopened just two months ago, operating normally until now. The heating system was in use at the time of the incident.”
According to Sarigiannidis, carbon monoxide fumes filled the hotel, prompting the Fire Brigade to bring in a specialist for further investigation.
The hotel owner was arrested and held in custody at the Amyntaio Police Station.
About CO Poisoning
Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea and vomiting, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, seizures, chest pain, disorientation, and loss of consciousness. It is crucial to treat CO poisoning immediately by getting to fresh air and calling for emergency medical assistance.
