Athens: five missing after building collapse

ATHENS, September 25 /ATSH-ANA/ – Fire crews continue searching the rubble of a building on Lysikratous Street in Athens, which collapsed after an explosion and fire that broke out shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Friday.

A large number of firefighters are at the scene, including personnel of the Special Disaster Response Unit (EMAK), who are using specialized equipment, thermal cameras, and a trained search dog in an effort to find people who may be trapped under the rubble.

According to the latest data, five people are missing.

They are believed to have been on the first and second floors of the building.

On the second floor, an elderly couple is believed to have lived, while on the first floor there were three tourists, believed to be U.S. citizens who had rented an apartment for a short stay.

However, authorities have not yet confirmed whether these people were inside the building at the moment of the explosion.

Athens mayor Haris Doukas, who arrived at the scene, said the situation was very complex and that searches were continuing intensively.

“There are missing persons. This is a very complex situation and the search is in full swing,” Doukas said, adding that search-and-rescue teams are also using trained dogs.

Drones have also been deployed in the area to create a clearer picture of the situation, while municipal services are assessing potential damage to surrounding buildings.

As for the cause of the explosion, Doukas said that, according to the information he had received, a gas-related problem was suspected. Investigations are expected to determine the exact causes of the incident.

Police forces and ambulances of the National Center for Emergency Care (EKAB) are also at the scene.

Meanwhile, heavy machinery provided by the Municipality of Athens is removing rubble and debris from the collapse area, while the search-and-rescue operation continues.