The Fire Department’s investigation is continuing at a rapid pace following the powerful explosion on Lysikratous Street in Plaka that occurred on Friday morning (September 25) and resulted in the collapse of a building and extensive damage to neighboring properties.
Authorities are trying to determine who was in the building at the time of the explosion. According to witnesses, a man from the United States was temporarily staying on the first floor, while an elderly couple lived on the second floor. A total of five people are reportedly missing, and a passerby was injured in the explosion.
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Search and rescue operations remain in full swing, with authorities expressing hope that no victims will be found beneath the rubble. The exact causes of the powerful explosion are expected to be clarified by the findings of the experts examining the site.
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According to initial assessments, the explosion may be linked to a problem with an indoor natural gas installation; however, there is no official conclusion yet regarding the exact causes of the incident. The relevant authorities note that the investigation is still ongoing and that conclusions will be drawn after the autopsy and technical inspections are completed.
The focus of the search efforts has now shifted to locating any trapped individuals. EMAK personnel are on the scene with a specially trained dog, while firefighters are conducting a thorough search of the rubble looking for five people who are reportedly missing.
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Information on five people missing in the collapsed building
The explosion occurred shortly before 8:30 a.m. in one of the capital’s busiest areas, just a few meters from Dionysiou Areopagitou Street. Residents and workers in the area described scenes of panic, reporting that the loud bang could be heard from a great distance. Others believed it was an earthquake, while some even suggested it was an explosive device due to the intensity of the shock wave.
The shock wave caused damage over a wide area around the site of the explosion. According to eyewitness accounts, doors, windows, and building facades were damaged even at a distance of more than 100 meters, with the scene in the area resembling a disaster zone.
At the same time, information from sources familiar with the operation of the natural gas network indicates that no problem has been detected in the area’s main supply line. As noted, the network’s supply is reportedly functioning normally in the surrounding buildings, a fact that is directing investigators’ attention to the possibility of a malfunction or leak within the internal plumbing of the building that collapsed.
Earlier, Fire Department spokesperson Yiannis Artopios, speaking to ERTnews and the “Newsroom” program, noted that the building that collapsed was residential, which is why it must be thoroughly investigated.
One passerby suffered minor injuries from the explosion, while two women were rescued from a neighboring building and taken to the hospital to receive first aid.
Initial indications regarding the causes
A vehicle from the responsible natural gas company arrived at the scene to secure the area, while the gas supply and electricity were cut off to prevent another accident.
According to what the Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning of the Municipality of Athens, Paris Charlaftis, told ERT that initial indications point to a possible malfunction or natural gas leak that occurred overnight. However, he emphasized that definitive conclusions will be drawn only after the investigation by the Fire Department’s relevant investigative unit is completed.
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The Fire Department is continuing its investigation at the site of the explosion to determine the causes of the incident that occurred on Friday morning (September 25), as emphasized to ERTnews by ELAS spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidou told ERT News.
Police forces will remain at the scene for as long as necessary and to provide any assistance the Fire Department may need.
“The building is completely destroyed”
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 1880 as the year of construction. “I don’t know if it’s habitable. Given its age and the explosion, it may also be deemed uninhabitable. Until the engineers conduct their on-site inspection, however, we can only speculate,” he noted.
Damage to stores and neighboring buildings
Inspections are being extended to neighboring buildings and adjacent city blocks. The shock wave caused damage to stores, windows, roller shutters, and shutters, even at a greater distance from the epicenter of the explosion.
According to the initial on-site assessment, most of the damage is considered minor. However, inspections are continuing to determine whether there are any structural issues with the buildings.
New Collapse During the Report
The situation at the scene remained dangerous, as part of the building collapsed while the ERT television broadcast was in progress. Debris continued to fall, and a thick cloud of dust rose from the collapse.
Firefighters are keeping the area cordoned off until the removal of hazardous materials is complete and it is ensured that there is no risk of further collapse.
“The safety of the area takes precedence over any other use,” the deputy mayor emphasized, noting that it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions regarding the extent of the damage and the exact causes of the explosion.
Source: ERT
