In one incident in the capital Vilnius, a fire broke out in an apartment believed to be caused by an e-scooter being charged incorrectly.

Three people were inside, with one woman requiring medical attention for serious injuries.

Seven residents were evacuated using breathing equipment as smoke engulfed the building. Firefighters reported smoke damage to around 20 apartments on the fourth and fifth floors.

“We are still investigating, but we do not rule out that an exploding electric scooter started the fire,” said Artūras Savolskis, a spokesman for Vilnius Fire Rescue Management.

Earlier that week, another fire occurred in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city, where two people were rescued from a fourth-floor balcony after suffering mild smoke inhalation.

In July, a more severe explosion was reported in the coastal town of Palanga.

Experts from Kaunas University of Technology and Vilnius University suggest that battery defects and incorrect charging are likely causes of the fires.

They warn that lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in scooters, are prone to overheating and combustion.