The moment of the explosion that occurred in a two-story building on Lysikratous Street in Plaka—which collapsed this morning—was captured by a security camera in the lobby of a nearby hotel.
In a video clip published by protothema.gr, the moment of the explosion can be seen, accompanied by a loud noise.
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The footage shows hotel guests in the lobby having breakfast. Shortly after 7:34 a.m., a loud “bang” is heard, the windows in the dining room shatter, and the guests run in panic toward the front desk.
According to the hotel owner, the tourists were frightened because they thought it was a bomb, while one couple left their room fearing another explosion.
Lysikratous Street resembles a bombed-out landscape
Meanwhile, drone footage now being released to the public captures the extent of the destruction caused by the powerful explosion at the intersection of Lysikratous and Vasilissis Amalias Streets.
As the images below show, the powerful explosion that occurred shortly after 7:30 a.m. left a trail of destruction in its wake, causing damage to nearby homes and businesses as well.
The powerful shock wave caused by the explosion also damaged nearby buildings in the area.
READ ALSO: “I saw it collapse right in front of me”: Eyewitness accounts of a strong smell of gas before the explosion at a building in Plaka
Windows in neighboring houses shattered from the force of the explosion, while damage was also reported to parked cars, with residents and passersby describing a particularly loud bang that shook the “heart” of Athens.
The most likely scenario for the explosion in Plaka
At this time, a large contingent of firefighters remains at the scene, working to fully extinguish the fire that broke out after the explosion, while investigations continue amid the rubble of the building that collapsed, which was being used as a short-term rental property.
According to initial assessments, the explosion was most likely caused by a natural gas leak; however, the exact causes are being investigated by the Athens Investigative Unit for Arson Crimes.
The fact that initial indications point to a possible malfunction or natural gas leak that occurred during the night was also confirmed by the Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning of the Municipality of Athens, Paris Charlaftis, speaking to ERT.
However, he emphasized that definitive conclusions will only be drawn after the investigation by the Fire Department’s relevant investigative unit is completed.
READ ALSO: Powerful explosion in Plaka: Two women rescued, passerby injured (VIDEO & PHOTOS)
As the deputy mayor pointed out, the building where the explosion occurred has been completely destroyed.
“What we can say with certainty is that the building is completely unusable,” he said, adding that an on-site inspection by the relevant departments of the City of Athens will follow.
The adjacent building also appears to have sustained extensive damage, and its age is a cause for additional concern. According to Mr. Charlaftis, there is a plaque at its entrance indicating that it was built in 1880.
“I don’t know if it’s habitable. Given its age and the explosion, it may also be deemed unfit for habitation. Until the technicians conduct their inspection, however, we can only speculate,” he noted.
Twenty firefighters with six vehicles are on the scene, along with two specialized rescue vehicles from the 1st EMAK unit, while the City of Athens has provided heavy equipment to support the operations.
Reports of a strong gas odor
The theory that the explosion was caused by a natural gas leak is supported by accounts from residents and workers in the area, who reported that they had detected a strong smell of gas before the powerful explosion.
“Smoke started billowing out; I watched the building collapse right in front of me. All the windows shattered. There was an elderly woman inside, but she got up and moved away. The police arrived and got us out. At first they said it was caused by a car bomb, then they told us it was caused by propane,” said a worker in the area while speaking to reporters; she also answered in the affirmative when asked if there had been a strong odor before the incident occurred.
“The explosion was loud; we weren’t hit—we got away with it. It smelled like propane, like gasoline, and there was smoke. I saw an elderly man down at the entrance who had been hit on the head […]. There are three injured people. “Our apartment—the one we live in—has been destroyed,” noted another woman who works in the area and was at the scene at the time of the explosion.
As previously reported, during the rescue operations, two women were rescued from a neighboring building—one elderly and one around 50 years old—and were taken to “Georgios Gennimatas,” while a man sustained minor injuries from shrapnel.
Source: Protothema.gr
