All residents of an apartment building that collapsed on Tuesday in Athens’ Petralona district are safe and accounted for, a senior fire service officer has confirmed.
Major General Vikentios Marinakis said fire service crews established that all occupants and workers had been evacuated following the collapse at 22 Alkminis Street, where the building gave way during demolition and construction works on an adjacent property.
According to Athens Deputy Mayor Panagiotis-Paris Charlaftis, the collapse occurred due to an error during excavation work in the basement of the neighboring site.
“The building collapsed during excavation; some mistake must have been made,” he said.
The four-story apartment block, built in the 1970s, contained multiple apartments occupied by several families. Residents said they heard a loud noise “like an earthquake” before evacuating after being alerted to the danger.
