Bag found in rubble of collapsed building in Plaka; search for the missing continues

Rescue teams searching the rubble of the two-storey building in Plaka, Athens, which collapsed after a suspected gas explosion on Friday morning, have found a bag believed to belong to one of the missing persons.

According to eKathimerini, the bag is suspected to belong to one of four tourists who are missing, along with an elderly couple who are also being sought. Firefighters, supported by sniffer dogs, are continuing the intensive search amid the rubble on Lysikratous Street, in the heart of the historic Plaka district.

The building collapsed after the suspected gas explosion in the early hours of Friday morning — an event 24-orë covered with a morning report and an afternoon update, in which three injured people were reported. Greek authorities are investigating the causes of the explosion, while the search-and-rescue operation remains the priority.

Lysikratous Street remains closed to traffic, while engineers are assessing the stability of neighbouring buildings. Authorities have urged citizens to avoid the area to give rescue teams room; the search is expected to continue through the night.

Photo: Plaka, Athens (Tilemahos Efthimiadis, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)