What caused the deadly explosion in Plaka? This is the crucial question that remains unanswered, now that the grim and painstaking process of recovering the six bodies from the rubble of the building on Lysikratous Street has been completed.
The powerful explosion that leveled the two-story building on Lysikratous Street left six people dead, with the operation by the Fire Department and the Special Disaster Response Unit (EMAK) concluding after approximately 24 hours of searching through the rubble.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
From the very first hours after the explosion, the most likely scenario being investigated is that of a gas buildup in an enclosed space, which led to ignition and subsequently to the catastrophic explosion. Initial assessments by the authorities and on-site investigations have focused attention on the building’s facilities, though no official conclusion confirming the cause has been reached so far.
SEE ALSO: Two of the victims of the tragedy in Plaka were a newlywed couple who were in Greece on their honeymoon
According to information being examined by authorities, particular attention is being paid to the second floor, where the explosion is believed to have originated, while evidence is being sought from the rubble to determine whether there was a problem with a gas line or some other appliance.
Fire Department: “There were no reports of a gas odor”
One of the questions that arises is whether there had been any prior indication of a problem, such as the smell of gas in the area.
Fire Department spokesperson Vasilis Vathrakogiannis stated that prior to the explosion, no reports of a gas odor had been filed with the Fire Department. This observation leaves open the possibility that the leak —if it is ultimately confirmed that this was the cause—may have occurred without any prior warning to the relevant authorities.
The Fire Department has taken charge of the investigation through its Investigative Division and the Arson Crimes Unit, while evidence is being collected from the debris at the scene.
Regarding the investigation into the causes of the explosion and fire, Mr. Vathrakogiannis noted that from the very beginning, a team from the Arson Crimes Division, consisting of 10 specialized officers, had been on the scene of the explosion and fire at the building in question.
Although the gas theory is considered the leading hypothesis, the authorities have not ruled out other possibilities until the technical inspections are completed. Under scrutiny are:
- the condition of the building’s facilities,
- a possible leak from the pipeline network or an internal installation,
- the presence of gas cylinders or other fuel sources,
- any evidence that might indicate the exact source of the explosion.
The Human Tragedy
Beyond the technical investigation, the tragedy in Plaka leaves behind a heavy human toll. The four people staying in the short-term rental apartment had come to Athens as visitors, while the elderly couple lived on the second floor of the building.
According to current information, those killed in the tragedy that occurred in the heart of Athens are Florinda Hoxha and her husband, Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick, who had recently married, as well as Eris Tsani and her husband, Florin Hoxha.
Four of the victims had rented an apartment on the first floor of the building. Of these, three were of Albanian descent and held U.S. citizenship.
They were on their honeymoon in Greece; the other couple was expecting a child
The case takes on an even more tragic dimension given that Florinda Hoxha and her husband, Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick, according to a relative, were in Greece on their honeymoon.
“The building that collapsed in Plaka about 13 hours ago is believed to have housed my cousins, Ian and Florinda. They are in Greece on their honeymoon,” wrote a relative in a post on Reddit, seeking information after reports that passports bearing their names had been found in the rubble.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the other couple who were with them, Eris Tsani and Florin Hoja, were expecting a child.
The other two victims of the tragedy are the elderly couple who lived on the second floor of the building.
They are Athina Papareskou and Edmond Hings, 77, of British origin, according to the information available so far.
It is recalled that the explosion occurred shortly after 7:30 a.m. yesterday, Friday (September 25), causing extensive damage to adjacent buildings and parked vehicles.
As announced by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, following the completion of the search and rescue operation and the recovery of all missing persons, on the orders of Minister Evangelos Tournas, firefighters and personnel from the 1st Special Disaster Response Unit (EMAK) will remain on site for as long as necessary to assist with whatever is required as work continues.
The head and a team from the Arson Crimes Investigation Directorate (DAEE) will also remain on site, continuing their preliminary investigation to determine the causes and circumstances of the incident.
Source: Protothema.gr / iefimerida.gr
