Six confirmed dead after building collapse in Athens following explosion
Six people were confirmed dead after a building in the Plaka district of Athens collapsed following an explosion on Friday morning.
Approximately 30 firefighters, equipped with six vehicles and three specialised dogs, conducted a thorough search following the building collapse, highlighting the scale of rescue operations in critical situations.
“We are profoundly saddened by the loss of life and are committed to determining the cause of this devastating explosion,” a spokesperson for the Athens fire service stated.
Six dead after explosion causes building to collapse in central Athens
Published on
Six people have been confirmed dead after a building where they were staying collapsed in Athens.
The building collapsed following an explosion on Friday morning in the Plaka district of the Greek capital.
Four US tourists had been staying on the first floor of the building while a couple – a 78-year-old British man and a 77-year-old Greek woman – lived on the second floor. The process of formally identifying the bodies is ongoing.
Fire crews are now winding down the operation after hours of searching through the rubble.
Around 30 firefighters, using six vehicles, took part in the search, with three specially trained dogs also deployed.
Rescue teams used geophones to try to detect possible sounds beneath the rubble, as well as specialist cameras to pinpoint locations where people might be trapped.
The explosion occurred shortly after 7:30 am on Friday and also caused damage to neighbouring properties and vehicles.
Two women were freed from a nearby building on Friday and transported to hospital. Another person suffered minor injuries from flying debris.
Authorities are meanwhile working to determine the cause of the blast.
The fire service, police, and medical crews remain at the scene, with a team from the Arson Crimes Division also investigating the incident.
Additional sources • ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ