Catania waterfront bar destroyed by fire, suspected intentional arson

Last Updated: April 2, 2024

Catania, il bar sul lungomare distrutto da un incendio: c'è l'ipotesi del rogo doloso

The investigations are ongoing, and the inquiries are still being carried out, but we already have enough evidence to send an official report to the Prosecutor’s Office in Catania. This is what the firefighters from the Etna provincial command say, who are currently conducting surveys inside the Cioccolato Caffè bar on Viale Ruggero di Lauria, which was destroyed by a fire.

The fire was preceded by a loud bang and an explosion that caused panic among those living in the waterfront area. The bar is located on the ground floor of a building currently undergoing renovations to the facade. The owner, a 41-year-old man, was inside the bar at the time of the fire and sustained serious burns; he is now in the Intensive Care Unit. The possibility of arson is now being considered as part of the investigation, and the Prosecutor’s Office will determine whether there was intent.

The firefighters have confirmed that they have sent all the documentation to the Prosecutor’s Office to determine liability: the fire may have been intentionally started by someone. The Antifire Investigative Unit personnel from Palermo is still on site, conducting inquiries together with the police.