All six people reported missing following the powerful explosion and building collapse on Lysikratous Street in Plaka have been found dead, after rescue crews recovered the final two bodies from the rubble on Saturday afternoon.
According to ERTnews, the last two bodies were located shortly before 2pm, bringing the search for the six missing people to an end. Work at the site is now focused on completing the recovery operation, formally identifying the victims and establishing what caused the deadly explosion.
Greek, British and American victims
The six people who had been missing were an elderly Greek woman and her British husband, who lived on the second floor of the building, and four US nationals, two men and two women, who were staying in a short-term rental apartment on the first floor.
According to the latest information from ERTnews, the final two bodies recovered are believed to belong to two of the four Americans, although the official identification process has yet to be completed.
Fire Service spokesman Vasilis Vathrakogiannis confirmed that the operation to locate the missing people had been completed.
Speaking to ERTnews on Saturday afternoon, he said six people had been recovered unconscious from the ruins.
The rescue operation involved 30 firefighters with six vehicles, two specialist rescue vehicles from the 1st EMAK and three specially trained dogs. Geophones and specialist cameras were also used.
Cause of explosion under investigation
With the search for the missing completed, attention is now turning to the cause of the explosion.
A team from the Fire Investigation Directorate is at the scene gathering evidence, but authorities have so far reached no definitive conclusion.
According to ERTnews, investigators are examining whether a propane installation may have been present in the elderly couple’s apartment, as well as the possibility of an issue involving natural gas.
Neither scenario has been confirmed.
CNN Greece, citing information it obtained, reported that a natural gas installation was present on the second floor and that no leak had been detected in the distribution network.
According to the same report, authorities are nevertheless continuing to examine both a possible natural gas leak and the possibility that the explosion was caused by a propane cylinder.
ERTnews had earlier reported preliminary information suggesting that independent gas boilers were installed on the ground and second floors.
Athens Deputy Mayor for Technical Works Paris Charlavtis had stressed that these were preliminary reports requiring confirmation through the investigation of the building.
Conflicting reports over smell of gas
Different accounts have also emerged over whether authorities had previously received reports of a smell of gas in the area.
In.gr reported allegations from a Lysikratous Street resident that the smell of gas had been noticed in the area for some time and that the relevant authorities had been informed.
The report also said members of the Plaka Residents’ Movement had sent a letter to the Fire Service and other authorities a year before the explosion expressing concerns about potential risks, including a possible gas leak.
However, in a subsequent official statement, Vathrakogiannis told ERTnews that the Fire Service had received no complaint about a smell of gas before the explosion.
Reports by residents and whether concerns had been addressed to another authority therefore remain a separate issue requiring clarification.
Structural condition of buildings examined
Attention has also turned to the structural condition of the collapsed building and surrounding properties.
Professor of Earthquake Engineering Dimitris Karydis told ERTnews that he believed the explosion may have occurred on the second floor.
He also said the building’s age and construction may have contributed to the extent of the collapse.
This remains an expert assessment rather than a conclusion reached by the official investigation.
Neighbouring buildings and vehicles damaged
The explosion also caused extensive damage to neighbouring buildings, businesses and parked vehicles.
Two women, an elderly resident and her caregiver, were rescued from an adjoining building and suffered minor injuries.
A passer-by was also injured by debris.
The injured were taken to Gennimatas Hospital.
According to ERTnews, initial inspections carried out by Athens municipal services indicate that neighbouring buildings are not currently considered safe for habitation and require repairs.
Further inspections are expected after work at the site is completed to determine the full extent of the damage.
Source: ERTnews, CNN Greece and in.gr
