Residents and workers in the area report a strong odor that preceded the explosion at the old two-story building that collapsed on Lysikratous Street in Plaka.
According to initial reports, the explosion occurred at 7:35 a.m. and is believed to have been caused by a natural gas leak.
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Rubio’s messages from Athens are significant, says Letympiotis
Rubio’s messages from Athens are significant, says Letympiotis
“I saw the building collapse; there was a strong odor.”
As mentioned earlier, eyewitnesses reported a strong odor before the incident.
“Smoke started coming 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 walked 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 woman who works 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.
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“There was a loud bang; we weren’t hit—we got away with it. It smelled like propane, like gas, and there was smoke. I saw an elderly man down at the entrance who had been hit in 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.
“The picture frames fell, the coffee spilled. We thought it was a bomb,” a local resident told Orange Press.
Two women were rescued; one person was injured
According to the Fire Department, during the search and rescue operations, two women were rescued from an adjacent building.
The two women are being transported by an EKAB ambulance to “Georgios Genimatas” Hospital.
In addition, one other person sustained minor injuries from flying debris caused by the explosion, while adjacent buildings and parked vehicles have sustained damage.
The explosion caused a fire
At the same time, the explosion caused a small fire, which was quickly brought under control by the fire department. Twenty-four firefighters are on the scene with six vehicles and two specialized rescue vehicles from the 1st EMAK unit.
In addition, the City of Athens has mobilized to assist with heavy equipment.
The Athens Arson Crimes Investigation Unit has been mobilized to investigate the causes of the incident.
The area has been cordoned off by police, and traffic has been halted.
Source: Proto Thema
