Fire Department experts are searching for answers regarding the causes of the deadly explosion in Plaka amid the rubble of the building on Lysikratous Street, with the investigation reportedly focusing on a natural gas installation believed to have been located on the second floor.
Findings so far point to a gas leak, which may have caused a large amount of gas to accumulate in the upper parts of the two-story building. A spark, a switch, or any other small ignition source is believed to have triggered the explosion that caused the disaster.
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At the same time, the investigation is focusing on both the condition of the facility and the age of the building, in order to determine whether there were factors that contributed to the tragedy and to accurately reconstruct the sequence of events.
SEE ALSO: Tragedy in Plaka: DNA used to identify the six victims; theories surrounding the deadly explosion
Specialized officers from the Arson Crimes Investigation Division (DAEE) are continuing their investigation at the scene, examining all available evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events, from the explosion and the outbreak of the fire to the collapse of the building.
Meanwhile, construction equipment from the City of Athens has removed nearly all of the building materials from the rubble.
The materials are being transported to a specially designated area provided by the City of Athens, where they are being examined in detail by officials from the Athens Fire Department (DAEE) and the experts appointed as part of the investigation.
On-site inspections begin at neighboring buildings
At the same time, today (September 28), official on-site inspections and structural stability assessments are beginning in the neighboring buildings affected by the explosion.
It should be noted that the powerful explosion that occurred on Friday morning(September 25) caused serious damage to the wider area, with the shock wave shattering windows, damaging facades, and causing problems for neighboring structures.
The inspection process is particularly important, as these are old buildings in the heart of Athens, in a historic neighborhood, where engineers are called upon to assess not only the extent of the damage but also the structural integrity of each building.
Panagiotis Charlaftis, Deputy Mayor for Technical Services of the City of Athens, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA)-MPE that the inspections will primarily focus on assessing the structural risk of the buildings and determining whether they can remain accessible and be used safely. If a building is deemed unsafe, further, secondary inspections and technical interventions will be required.
As Mr. Charlaftis explained, in such a case, the owner must proceed with a restoration plan for the property. Until the process is completed and the building’s safety is ensured, it will remain off-limits.
Relatives of the Victims at the Medical Examiner’s Office
Meanwhile, the relatives of the victims of the deadly explosion in Plaka arrived in Greece yesterday, following an invitation from the relevant authorities. The families are expected to go to the Athens Forensic Service, where they will provide genetic samples for DNA comparison in order to complete the process of identifying and verifying the remains.
It should be noted that the deadly explosion and collapse of the building on Lysikratous Street claimed the lives of Florinda Hoja and her husband Ian Alexander Kirkpatrick, Eris Tsani and her husband Florin Hoxha, as well as the elderly couple Athina Papareskou and Edmond Hings, who lived on the second floor of the building currently under investigation by the authorities.
Source: Proto Thema
