Rescue crews in Athens’ Plaka district recovered the body of a man at about 11 a.m. Saturday from the wreckage of a two-storey building that collapsed after Friday morning’s explosion. A woman had already been pulled from the ruins overnight, bringing the confirmed death toll to two.
Four people remain missing. The Fire Service is racing to reach them before time runs out.
The search
Teams are using specialised concrete-cutting shears on the last section of debris that has not yet been fully checked. About 30 firefighters are on site with six vehicles, including two specialist rescue units from the 1st EMAK, and three search-and-rescue dogs. Rescuers are also using acoustic geophones and cameras to listen and look for signs of life.
The Municipality of Athens is supporting the operation with heavy machinery to clear material.
How the disaster unfolded
The blast happened shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Friday, 25 September. It wrecked the building, damaged neighbouring properties, and wrecked parked cars.
On Friday, firefighters pulled two women from an adjacent building on Lysikratous Street. They were taken by EKAB ambulance to Georgios Gennimatas Hospital. Another person was slightly injured by flying debris.
The Arson Crimes Division is still at the scene investigating the cause. Police (ELAS) and ambulance crews remain on site.
Mayor: “an unbelievable disaster”
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said the city is living through “difficult hours, hours of anguish,” with municipal crews, the Fire Service and EMAK all deployed.
Asked about the cause, he said there are already some early indications, but “the big battle right now is finding people.” He described the blast as terrifying and said it hit the front of the site hardest, though the rear is damaged too. “It is an explosion that may be due to an extensive leak. A very large leak,” he said.
On neighbouring buildings, Doukas said the two adjoining properties are in very poor condition. Surveys have begun to decide whether they can stand or must be demolished. Two or three buildings across the street are also in a difficult state. Damage runs the length of the street and the street behind; the shock wave reached the pavement in front. “We are talking about an unbelievable disaster,” he said.
Source: GCT Staff
